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AT   WILHWS'   PHOTOaEAPH   P.COMS. 


JOHN    S.    SAUZADE. 


NEW   YOEK: 

G.    W.    Carleton   6f   Co.,    Publishers. 

LONDON:     8.   LOW,   SON  &  OO. 
M.DCCC.LXXm. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873,  by 

JOHN    S.     SAUZADE, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


Stereotyped  at  tb» 

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New  York. 


I. 


ALTHOUGH  of  much  importance  as  a  manufact- 
uring place,  Belton  is  noted  chiefly  for  the  beau- 
tiful water-fall  to  which  the  town,  in  fact,  owes 
its  existence. 

Here  the  Passaic,  interrupted  in  its  placid 
flow  by  a  rocky  barrier,  takes  an  abrupt  turn, 
and  plunges  in  a  narrow  sheet  of  foam  adown 
a  deep  chasm,  formed  in  one  of  Nature's  throes 
ages  ago,  and  then  with  wild  swirls  rushes  an- 
grily over  a  rocky  bed,  until  spent  and  quiet  it 
skirts  the  town,  and  winds  away  appeased  and 
pellucid — despite  the  murky  drain  of  dye-houses 
— through  woodlands,  fields,  and  pastures  green. 
Ere  reaching  the  cataract,  however,  the  river  is 
tapped  by  a  canal  which  serves  to  feed  the  flumes 
that  run  the  many  mills  of  Belton  ;  and  through 


2063469 


6  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

this  race-way  the  diverted  waters  speed  on  their 
busy  errand,  starting  cumbersome  overshot,  un- 
dershot, breast,  and  turbine  wheels  into  action, 
that  in  their  turn  quicken  into  life  the  restless 
shuttle  and  whirling  spindle. 

From  the  cliff,  at  the  head  of  the  cataract,  one 
may  completely  overlook  the  town,  a  cheerful 
hive,  compactly  built,  and  consisting  chiefly  of 
long  brick  factories,  with  little  belfries,  and 
rows  of  small  white  wooden  dwellings.  The 
whole  is  neat  and  bright ;  no  canopy  of  coal- 
smoke  obscures  the  blue  sky,  and  but  an  occa- 
sional tall  chimney  or  jet  of  vapor  is  seen,  for 
here  steam  is  dethroned,  and  the  cheaper  motor 
reigns  supreme. 

The  river  side,  the  cliff,  the  falls,  in  short  the 
water-power  belongs  and  has  belonged  for  gen- 
erations to  the  Obershaw  family.  In  days  of 
yore,  when  Whitman  Obershaw  ran  a  saw-mill, 
and  tilled  a  clearing  hereabout,  his  worldly  pos- 
sessions, it  is  safe  to  say,  were  not  such  as  to  as- 
similate his  chances  of  salvation  to  the  facility 
with  which  a  camel  can  go  through  a  needle's 
eye,  and  it  was  reserved  for  his  son,  John  Peter 
Obershaw,  to  reap  the  benefit  of  the  accident 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  7 

that  had  put  his  ancestors  in  possession  of  the 
site  of  Belton.  And  when  you  consider  the 
present  magnitude  of  the  place,  its  many  mills, 
and  the  enormous  yearly  rental  of  the  water- 
power,  you  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn  that  the 
costly  stone  mansion  on  the  cliff,  with  its  impos- 
ing front,  its  beautiful  grounds,  conservatories, 
and  lodges,  is  the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Rufus 
Heath,  son-in-law  and  heir  of  John  Peter  Ober- 
shaw,  who  built  it. 

There  is   a  mural  tablet  in  the  apse  of    St. 
Jude's,  Belton,  inscribed  to  the  memory  of 

JOHN  PETER  OBERSHAW, 
OP  THIS  TOWN, 

Through  whoso  munificence  this  Church 

WAS    EKECTED, 

A.D.  1840. 

HIS  CHRISTIAN  VIRTUES  ENDEARED  HIM  TO  ALL. 

An  epitaph  which  bore  out  the  proverbial  reputa- 
tion of  its  kind  in  being  essentially  a  lie — a  lie  in 
black  and  white,  for  old  Obershaw  had  no  Chris- 
tian or  even  Pagan  virtues  to  speak  of,  and  was 
rather  disliked  by  all  for  a  selfish,  avaricious, 


8  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

nonagenarian.  Perhaps  the  only  commendable 
act  of  his  life  was  the  erection  of  the  small,  but 
handsome  church  in  question.  Yet,  even  this 
was  looked  upon  as  but  the  placatory  offering  of 
a  prudent  worldling,  about  to  appear  before  the 
final  tribunal,  and  anxious  to  propitiate  the 
great  Judge.  Moreover,  those  who  knew  the 
most  about  it  asserted  that  the  church  would 
never  have  been  built,  nor  a  dollar  spent  to- 
wards it,  had  it  not  been  for  Eufus  Heath,  who, 
during  the  last  years  of  his  father-in-law's  life, 
had  the  entire  control  of  the  estate,  owing  to  the 
latter's  age  and  incapacity.  Doubtless  these  as- 
sertions were  true,  for  neither  dread  of  God  or 
demon  could  ever  have  wrung  an  unremunera- 
tive  stiver  from  old  John  Peter  Obershaw's 
clutching  fist,  as  he  belonged  to  the  orthodox 
school  of  misers — the  class  who  live  but  to  accu- 
mulate, and  find  all  their  pleasure  in  that  sound, 
wholesome  vice  which  prolongs  life,  and  betrays 
not  to  a  fool's  paradise. 

To  the  last  he  was  steadfast  to  his  idol.  For 
years  previous  he  was  confined  to  his  room  by  pa- 
ralysis, dead  to  all  affections  save  love  of  money, 
and  vegetating  in  an  easy  chair  stuffed  literally 


MARK  GILDEE8LEE  V  E.  9 

with  gold;  for  the  senile  miser,  like  a  mag- 
pie, slyly  secreted  coin  in  every  nook  and  corner 
of  his  chamber.  In  this  second  childhood,  it  was 
necessary  to  quiet  him  by  giving  him  money  to 
toy  with,  and  musty  accounts  and  deeds,  which 
he  pored  over  with  the  vacuity  of  an  imbecile. 
To  the  end  the  ruling  passion  swayed  him.  At  the 
last  moment,  when  the  taper  of  life  was  about 
giving  its  expiring  flicker,  he  asked  his  attend- 
ant to  bring  him  a  surveyor's  map  of  his  es- 
tate. "  And,  James,  tell  .  .  .  tell  Mr.  Heath  I 
want  to  see  him  .  .  .  see  him  at  once.  Must 
buy  Yan  Slyke's  farm  if  he'll  sell  it  right  .  .  . 
sell  it  right.  But  he  wants  too  much  ...  too 
much.  No  .  .  no  .  .  can't  give  it.  No  .  .  no; 
haven't  .  .  got  the  money.  Soon  as  I  am  well, 
well .  .  .  and  strong,  I'll  go  out  and  have  a  look 
at  it  ...  look  at  it.  Soon  as  I  am  well,  and  go 
out  ...  go  out.  But  can't  'ford  to  pay  much. 
No  .  .  no.  Van  Slyke's  farm  '11  square  the  addi- 
tion. But,  I  can't  pay  much  .  .  .  can't  'ford  it ;  " 
and  a  nervous  twitching  of  his  pale  thin  lips,  as 
he  mumbled  to  himself,  showed  teeth  still  sound, 
though  worn  down  like  an  old  mastiff's.  He  was 
a  man  of  large  frame,  gaunt,  bowed  with  age, 


10  MAUK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

and  the  dried  yellow  skin  of  hid  face  resem- 
bled wrinkled  parchment.  When  the  map  was 
brought  to  him,  he  stared  vacantly  at  it  with 
faded  eyes  that  looked  like  dull  agates,  then  re- 
lapsed into  a  still  slumber  with  the  map  griped 
in  his  long,  talon-like,  bony  fingers,  as  if  some 
one  would  steal  it  from  him.  Aroused  by  the 
entrance  of  his  son-in-law,  he  again  mumbled — 
"  Where's  the  map  .  .  .  map  ?  Heath,  see  Van 
Slyke  'bout  the  farm  and  don't  let  him  ..  .  .  let 
him  cheat  me.  I  ain't  quite  .  .  .  quite  so  strong 
now,  and  .  .  .  and  they'll  cheat  me.  Ah,  theyh-e 
a  close,  sharp  set.  .  .  .  Soon  as  I  am  well  I'll 
go  ...  I'll  go " 

The  last  words  were  uttered  in  a  faint  whisper ; 
no  further  sound  came  from  the  moving  lips ; 
the  death  film  crept  over  his  eyes,  and  he  was 
gone.  He  had  lasted  well  and  long,  for  avarice 
is  a  powerful  antiseptic.  The  dry  heart  burns  to 
the  socket,  and  the  selfish  miser  was  blessed  with 
an  euthanasia  that  a  saint  might  have  envied. 

The  nearest  physician,  Dr.  Wattletop,  was 
swiftly  summoned,  only  to  return  discomfited,  as 
he  expressed  it,  by  that  omnipotent  leech  who 
carries  his  lancet  at  the  end  of  a  snath. 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  11 

The  fall  of  .so  heavily  laden  a  body  into  the 
great  ocean  of  eternity  created,  to  use  a  homely 
simile,  an  unusual  splash,  and  occasioned  no  little 
commotion  in  Belton. 

"Why,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Madison  Mumbie,  the 
eminent  paper-maker,  addressing  Dr.  Wattletop, 
in  the  agitation  of  the  moment,  "  Why,  sir,  Mr. 
Obershaw's  wealth  is  e-normous !  Probably  the 
richest  man  we  had  in  the  State.  Yes,  sir  "  (with 
a  sigh),  "  I  regret  to  say  it,  we  have  lost  a  gentle- 
man, and  a  Christian,  who  leaves  at  least  two 
millions  of  dollars.  Yes,  sir,  two  millions  at  the 
lowest  calculation — he  leaves  all  of  that ! " 

"  Leaves !  "  repeated  the  doctor.  "  Aye,  there's 
the  rub.  Now,  if  he  could  only  have  taken  the 
two  millions  with  him,  there  would  have  been 
something  in  it,  wouldn't  there  ? " 

This  view  of  the  case  did  not  strike  Mr.  Mum- 
bie, who  was  himself  rather  inclined  to  accumu- 
late, as  cheerful  or  encouraging,  and  he  went  his 
way  in  a  meditative  mood. 

Mr.  Mook,  the  gentlemanly  undertaker,  in 
walking  twenty  rods  from  the  residence  of  the 
deceased,  was  accosted  by  not  less  than  a  dozen 


12  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

anxious  inquirers  eager  to  learn  the  slightest  par- 
ticular relating  to  the  sorrowful  event.  To  whom 
Mr.  Mook,  with  that  mingled  air  of  neatness,  de^ 
spatch,  and  meek  resignation  to  the  decrees  of 
Providence,  which  characterized  him,  replied 
in  a  serious  and  very  proper  way.  The  informa- 
tion imparted  was  invariably  received  by  the 
questioners  with  expressions  of  deep  interest  and 
sympathy,  as  if  they  had  lost  a  near  and  dear 
friend.  It  is  sad  to  add,  though,  that  one  indi- 
vidual, George  Gildersleeve,  the  noisiest  quidnunc 
in  Belton,  was  on  the  contrary  rather  discourteous 
and  disparaging  in  his  inquiries  and  comments. 
George  is  a  man  of  substance,  and  proprietor  of 
the  Archimedes  "Works.  A  burly  fellow  of  mid- 
dle age,  with  chest  and  loins  like  an  ox,  coarse 
mouth,  hale  complexion,  and  sandy  hair  shorn 
close  over  an  obstinate  head.  Rich  and  purse- 
proud,  he  proclaims  himself  a  plebeian,  and  in 
keeping  therewith  is  generally  seen  divested  of 
coat  and  hands  in  pockets.  Thus  he  appeared  in 
the  doorway  of  his  counting-room  as  Mr.  Mook 
came  down  the  street,  and  passed  the  Archimedes 
"Works.  Decorous  and  mournful  Mook  affected 
not  to  see  Gildersleeve,  dreading  him  as  a  bore 


MARK   GILDER8LEEVE.  13 

and  button-holder ;  but  the  stratagem  was  futile, 
and  bluff  George,  hailing  the  undertaker  as 
"  Commodore,"  brought  him — speaking  nautically 
— "  to." 

"  First-class  obsequies,  sir,  have  been  ordered. 
Most  elegant  rosewood  casket,  new  pattern  silver 
handles.  Everything  in  the  most  rekerchey  and 
approved  style.  Funeral  on  Wednesday,"  Mook 
replied,  in  a  tone  of  mild  reproof,  in  answer  to 
Gildersleeve's  query  as  to  when  he  was  going  to 
put  old  Uncle  John  to  bed  with  a  shovel. 

Mr.  Mook  took  pride  in  his  profession.  He 
was  the  inventor  and  patentee  of  a  burial  casket, 
that  for  "  ease,  elegance,  and  comfort,"  as  he  ad- 
miringly described  it,  was  equalled  by  few  and 
surpassed  by  none. 

"  Well,  well,  Commodore  " — it  was  a  habit  of 
Gildersleeve's  to  dub  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances with  incongruous  titles,  whether  prompted 
thereto  by  affectionate  impulses  or  a  peculiar 
sense  of  humor,  we  are  not  prepared  to  decide ; 
sufficient  to  say  that  the  undertaker  was  invari- 
ably addressed  as  "  Commodore  "  by  the  master  of 
the  Archimedes  Works ;  similarly,  Mr.  McGof- 
fin,  the  highly  respectable,  though  illiterate  shoe- 


14:  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

maker,  was  styled  "Judge;"  Dr.  "Wattletop, 
"  Major,"  etc.,  etc. 

"  "Well,  well,  Commodore,"  said  Gildersleeve, 
leaving  his  door-step  and  planting  himself  on  the 
sidewalk  so  as  to  bar  the  way  and  hold  the  under- 
taker to  converse,  "  so  we  go.  If  the  man  with 
the  pitchfork  don't  get  old  Uncle  John,  what  the 
deuce  is  the  use  of  having  a  man  with  a  pitch- 
fork, eh?" 

Mr.  Mook  coughed  behind  his  hand,  and  tried 
to  look  as  if  he  hadn't  heard  the  remark,  as  he 
said,  "  Great  loss  to  Belton,  Mr.  Gildersleeve." 

"  Great  loss ! "  repeated  Gildersleeve.  "  The 
old  cuss !  Why,  confound  him,  he  drove  his  only 
son,  Johnny  Obershaw,  to  sea  when  he  was  but 
fourteen  years  old,  by  his  infernal  meanness,  and 
the  little  monkey  was  lost  overboard  less  than  a 
month  after ;  and  .now  here's  Ruf e  Heath,  that  I 
recklect  when  he  hadn't  two  coppers  to  jingle  on 
a  tombstone,  slips  in,  bags  the  whole  pool,  and 
puts  on  more  airs  than  a  French  barber.  Isow 
I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,  Joe  Mook,  you  know  me' 
well  enough,  and  you  know  that  I  can  show  as 
lovely  a  little  pile  of  rocks  as  the  next  man,  and 
you  know,  too,  that  I  sweat  for  it.  Yes,  sir,  by 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  15 

the  hokey !  on  this  spot  (with  a  flourish  towards 
the  works),  where  my  grandfather  shod  Gineral 
"Washington's  horse  in  a  rickety  old  shanty  that 
you  could  have  capsized  with  a  kick,  I  began 
when  I  was  knee-high,  with  a  hide  apron  on, 
swinging  the  sledge  and  paring  hoofs  late  and 
early.  Yes,  sir !  late  and  early,  warm  or  cold,  I 
stuck  to  it,  and  no  thanks  to  any  one,  until  you 
see  what  I've  come  to !  And  is  there  any  airs 
about  me  ?  I  think  not ;  and  there's  many  a  man 
in  this  place  that's  as  proud  as  a  peacock,  that  I 
could  buy  and  sell  twice  over.  But  I  can  say 
this,  and  you  know  it,  that  I've  always  been,  and 
always  intend  to  be,  as  independent  as  a  hog  on 
ice.  That's  me ! " 

And  that  was  he.  For  if  Mr.  George  "Wash- 
ington Gildersleeve  prided  himself  on  anything, 
it  was  on  being  free  from  "  airs,"  and  indepen- 
dent as  a  hog  on  ice — a  comparison,  it  must  be 
confessed,  not  particularly  happy,  and  that  con- 
veyed an  entirely  unintended  impression.  How- 
ever, it  came  pat  to  him,  and  he  flung  it  defiantly 
in  the  teeth  of  the  world.  Mook  had  heard  those 
sentiments  before,  hence  he  was  not  vividly  im- 
pressed by  them,  nor  altogether  pleased  with  the 


16  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

diatribe  against  his  present  patrons.  Still,  he  was 
not  prepared  for  their  sakes  to  remonstrate,  and 
perhaps  offend  a  future  customer,  for  the  under- 
taker, "  thankful  for  past  favors,"  as  he  stated  in 
his  advertisement  in  the  Belton  Sentinel,  "and 
soliciting  a  continuance  of  the  same,"  seemed  to 
think  himself  exempt  from  the  common  lot  of 
humanity,  and  set  apart  to  take  under  all  Belton 
forever.  So  he  gave  a  non-committal  shake  of 
the  head,  as  he  contemplated  the  pavement,  and 
then,  profiting  by  a  pause  in  Gildersleeve's  ha- 
rangue to  escape,  glided  with  soft  steps  away  to 
his  avocations. 

ft 

The  funeral  was  an  imposing  one.  Many  of 
the  mills  were  closed — all,  in  fact,  that  could  con- 
veniently stop  working.  The  Archimedes  Works, 
though,  remained  in  full  blast,  as  the  proprietor, 
true  to  his  independence,  did  not  feel  himself  any 
more  called  upon  to  close  his  shops  for  old  John 
Peter  Obershaw's  death,  than  for  that  of  any 
other  mere  acquaintance.  Gildersleeve,  however, 
as  a  concession,  was  at  the  interment,  with  his 
coat  on  too,  somewhat  subdued,  perhaps,  in  tone 
and  demeanor,  but  keeping  up,  nevertheless,  an 


MAKK   GILDERSLEEYE.  17 

animated  political  discussion  with  a  fellow-citizen 
as  they  stood  in  the  churchyard.  Nine-tenths  of 
the  population  of  the  town  gathered  to  witness 
the  funeral.  There  had  not  been  so  much  excite- 
ment in  the  place  since  the  day  of  the  "  Grand 
Triumphal  Entree "  of  "  Peabody's  Combination 
Menagerie  and  Hippodrome."  The  people  lined 
the  streets  through  which  the  procession  passed, 
and  filled  St.  Jude's,  where  the  sendees  were  held. 
No  less  than  three  ministers  were  in  attendance, 
and  a  bishop  extolled  the  virtues  and  success  of 
the  decedent  in  a  way  to  persuade  the  auditors 
that  they  mourned  a  well-spent  life.  Then  the 
church  bell  tolled  a  requiem  knell  as  to  the  family 
vault  the  corpse  was  borne  along,  attended  by 
pall-bearers,  who  had  been  consistently  selected 
from  among  the  wealthiest  acquaintances  of  the 
family.  The  Hon.  E-uf us  Heath  followed  as  chief 
mourner,  with  his  young  daughter ;  then  came 
his  son  and  daughter-in-law ;  and  lastly,  a  multi- 
tude of  relatives  and  friends. 

So  passed  away  this  old  man,  leaving  behind  a 
vast  fortune,  that  had  brought  him  but  the  gam- 
bler's joy — but  the  arid  pleasures  of  the  gold 


18  MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

glutton,  subsisting  on  the  fumes  of  money ;  the 
odorless  fumes  whose  cold  astringency  withers  the 
emotions,  dries  the  heart,  and  leaves  man  with 
but  the  instincts  of  the  vulture  and  fox. 

John  Peter  Obershaw  left  no  children  to  sur- 
vive him.  His  only  son,  as  Gildersleeve  had  said, 
was  lost  at  sea,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Heath,  had 
preceded  her  father  on  the  long  journey  years 
before.  As  he  owed  much  of  the  augmentation 
of  his  wealth  to  the  judgment,  vigilance,  and 
superintendence  of  his  son-in-law,  it  was  not  sur- 
prising that  the  estate  was  found  devised  to  him, 
the  only  being  who  had  ever  secured  the  favor 
and  entire  confidence  of  the  old  miser.  Town 
tattle  hinted  at  "  undue  influence  "  and  "  imbecil- 
ity." There  might  have  been  more  in  this  than 
idle  gossip,  but  as  no  one  was  interested  other 
than  the  devisee's  children  in  making  any  investi- 
gations, he  inherited  without  opposition.  A  great 
accretion  of  wealth  this  to  Rufus  Heath,  who 
stepped  thus  quietly  into  the  shoes  of  the  late 
owner  of  Belton,  for  that  town  was  in  reality 
little  more  than  an  appanage  of  the  Obershaw 
family.  The  evidences  of  this  were  patent  on 


MAKK  GILDERSLEEVE.  19 

every  side.  A  walk  through  the  principal  street 
showed  you  Heath  Hall,  where  political  meetings 
to  distract,  and  balls  and  concerts  to  delight,  the 
denizens  took  place ;  Obershaw  House,  a  tavern 
of  dimensions  vast,  where  the  lodging  and  dining 
rooms  were  too  gorgeous  to  be  comfortable,  and 
only  the  bar  commodious  and  consolatory;  the 
Belton  Bank ;  the  Passaic  Insurance  Company ; 
the  Savings  Institution,  with  its  bee-hive  sign — in 
all  of  which  Kufus  Heath's  claim  of  ownership, 
or  sovereignty,  gave  further  indication  of  the 
wealth  of  the  Obershaw  estate.  In  short,  you 
could  not  turn  without  being  reminded  how  fort- 
unate and  important  a  man  was  the  present  heir, 
whilom  a  poor  lawyer's  clerk  and  now  owner  of 
the  truly  Pactolian  waters  of  the  Falls  of  the 
Passaic. 


20  TtfAttg   GILDEBSLEEVE. 


II. 


THE  villa  on  the  cliff  would  probably  have 
excited  but  little  attention  in  any  country  where 
chateaux  or  palaces  abound,  but  it  was  looked 
upon  by  the  simple  people  of  Belton  as  a  magnif- 
icent dwelling.  After  a  stranger  or  tourist  had 
seen  the  falls,  he  was  invariably  driven  by  the 
ciceroning  hackman,  desirous  of  lengthening  the 
ride  and  increasing  the  fare,  to  view  Mr.  Heath's 
residence,  that  being  considered  next  in  impor- 
tance as  a  noteworthy  object.  It  was  built  of  a 
gray  stone,  on  a  site  that  commanded  a  fine  pros- 
pect of  the  town  and  of  a  long  stretch  of  river. 
There  was  no  attempt  to  preserve  architectural 
unity  in  the  structure ;  in  fact,  it  exhibited  rather 
an  incongruous  medley  of  orders.  The  front  was 
partly  Italian,  with  a  circular  portico  supported 
by  slender  Ionic  columns.  The  rear  was  Eliza- 
bethan, pieced  out  with  an  extension  for  a  pict- 
ure-gallery ;  on  one  side  were  oriel  windows,  and 
the  other  was  flanked  by  a  keep,  with  turret  and 


MAEK  GILDEB8LEEVE.  21 

embattled  parapet,  which  gave  the  edifice  rather 
a  frowning  appearance,  as  if  the  host  were  pre- 
pared for  any  emergency,  and  could  treat  visitors 
with  bountiful  hospitality,  or  a  narrow  cell  in  the 
donjon,  as  he  saw  fit  and  felt  disposed.  The  inte- 
rior was  in  keeping  with  this  pretentious  exterior. 
A  stately  staircase  led  up  from  a  wide  entrance 
hall  tessellated  with  marble  tiles,  on  either  side 
of  which  were  dining  and  reception  rooms.  These 
and  the  boudoirs  and  bedchambers  were  all  re- 
splendent with  gilt  and  elegant  frescoes.  The 
surrounding  grounds,  or  "park,"  as  they  were 
called,  were  spacious.  There  were  terraces  with 
marble  urns,  fountains,  velvet  lawns,  interspersed 
with  brilliant  beds  of  flowers,  and  rows  of  shapely 
evergreens.  In  short,  no  expense  had  been  spared 
to  construct  a  habitation  capable  of  impressing  an 
ordinary  beholder  with  the  wealth  and  impor- 
tance of  the  dwellers  therein,  and  if  corroborative 
evidence  were  needed,  the  porter  at  the  loclge 
would  carry  conviction  by  referring  to  the  elegant 
iron  railing  inclosing  the  grounds,  which  he  as- 
serted, with  emphatic  pride,  "  cost  more'n  twenty 
thousand  hard,  ringing  silver  dollars !  a  fortune 
for  any  one." 


22  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

Do  not  suppose  that  old  John  Peter  Obershaw 
was  in  any  way  responsible  for  all  this  pomp  and 
splendor.  Spending  money,  much  less  extrava- 
gance in  any  shape,  was  totally  foreign  to  his 
habits  or  tastes;  and  he  had  been  led  into  the 
outlay  requisite  for  all  this  grandeur  insensibly 
and  unwittingly.  We  say  insensibly  and  unwit- 
tingly the  more  positively,  as  the  aged  invalid 
could  not  be  said  to  have  had  any  sense  or  wit  of 
his  own,  during  the  last  years  of  his  long  life,  and 
was  completely  under  the  dominion  of  his  son-in- 
law,  who  planned  and  built  the  villa  in  accord- 
ance with  his  own  ostentatious  ideas. 

The  morning  after  the  late  owner  of  this  prince- 
ly residence  had  left  it  for  the  narrow  quarters  of 
a  churchyard  vault,  the  new  one  arose  early  and 
descended  from  his  bedroom  for  a  short  walk  in 
the  fresh  morning  air.  A  very  handsome  man  of 
fif  ty  or  so,  with  a  compact  figure,  keen  gray  eyes, 
hign  receding  forehead,  slightly  bald,  and  hair 
prematurely  silvered.  Perceptible  on  the  firm 
surface  of  his  pale,  close-shorn  face,  were  the 
lines  of  decision  and  shrewdness,  and  that  seal  of 
pride  conferred  by  the  possession  of  wealth  and 
authority — a  chilling  expression  commonly  called 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  23 

aristocratic,  and  which  is  simply  refined  vanity. 
Musing  with  downcast  eyes,  hands  clasped  behind 
his  back,  and  head  uncovered,  to  and  fro  on  the 
terrace  paced  Mr.  Heath.  Before  descending, 
he  had  opened  the  door  of  his  father-in-law's 
room,  and  looked  in.  The  huge  stuffed  arm-chair 
was  still  there  in  its  accustomed  place,  but  vacant ; 
the  padding  ripped  up — done  to  look  for  secreted 
coin.  His  staff  lay  in  one  corner,  a  worn  hickory 
stick,  his  companion  for  years, — but  the  old  man 
was  gone.  He  had  been  for  years  but  an  inert 
dweller,  verging  on  imbecility,  an  incumbrance, 
and  yet  what  a  void  he  had  left!  How  silent 
and  empty  the  chamber  seemed!  Mr.  Heath 
closed  the  door  softly,  and  went  gravely  down 
the  stairs.  He  was  glad  to  breathe  the  refresh- 
ing air  and  feel  the  sunshine.  As  he  paced,  he 
would  occasionally  stop  and  glance  over  the 
sloping  lawn,  and  towards  the  river  whose  shin- 
ing current  bore  thrift  to  the  town  and  tribute  to 
him.  All  these  possessions  were  now  his,  abso- 
lutely and  entirely  his.  Without  longing  for  it, 
he  had  expected  and  looked  forward  to  this  day. 
He  remembered,  when  a  poor  clerk,  how  he  had 
coveted  the  wealth  of  the  proprietor  of  Belton 


24:  MARX   GILDERSLEEVE. 

Falls,  as  ho  watched  him,  meanly  clad,  haggling 
with  some  shopkeeper  over  a  few  coppers.  He 
remembered  his  joy  when  a  stroke  of  luck  put 
him  in  possession  of  the  capital  necessary  to 
carry  out  a  scheme  whose  consummation  had  en- 
abled him  finally  to  attain  his  present  position, 
first,  by  securing  Mr.  Obershaw's  confidence,  and 
eventually,  a  less  difficult  feat  (favored  as  he  was 
by  an  uncommon  share  of  good  looks),  the  hand 
and  heart  of  his  daughter.  And  now  they  were 
both  gone,  and  he  was  left  loaded  with  wealth ; 
wealth  unmeasured — wealth  to  flatter  every  wish 
and  further  every  ambitious  project.  The  fruit 
was  ripe  and  had  fallen.  He  bit  it,  but  no  lus- 
cious juice  rushed  to  the  bare  papillae ;  the  taste 
was  insipid  and  dry  as  ashes !  Every  realization 
is  but  an  after-taste,  but  this  was  almost  bitter. 
The  morning  sun  spangled  the  dewy  grass,  and 
darted  brightly  through  the  tree  boughs.  Birds 
carolled  sweetly,  and  all  nature  rejoiced,  but  his 
spirits  seemed  to  sink  under  the  increased  weight 
of  riches,  and  he  felt  burdened.  For  an  instant 
an  unaccountable  depression  seized  him,  and  he 
hardly  heeded  a  gardener  who  approached  to 
speak.  The  man  noticed  his  master's  pre-occu- 


GILDEBSLEEVE.  25 


pation,  and  waited  patiently  and  respectfully  un- 
til his  attention  was  drawn  towards  him.  He 
wanted  to  know  if  Mr.  Heath  would  like  to  look 
at  a  beautiful  exotic  that  had  just  bloomed  that 
morning.  Mr.  Heath  mechanically  assented,  and 
followed  the  gardener  to  the  greenhouse.  Usu- 
ally he  was  much  interested  in  the  fine  collection 
of  plants  in  the  conservatory,  but  now  he  listened 
dully  to  the  man's  enthusiastic  praises  of  the  rare 
flower,  and  looked  at  it  with  indifference.  "With- 
out replying  to  the  gardener,  he  walked  away 
slowly,  musing  as  he  went  on  that  sermon  so 
often  repeated  but  never  heeded  —  the  vanity  of 
earthly  possessions.  "  Dross,  dross,  it  is  so,"  he 
soliloquized,  "  but  how  long  it  takes  to  leam  the 
lesson  !  How  many  envy  me  ;  how  many  whose 
first  thought  on  seeing  me,  whose  first  wish,  is  to 
be  as  I  am  !  What  a  supremely  happy  and  bless- 
ed man  I  must  be  !  Ah,  the  monks  are  wise.  .  .  . 
But  fame  —  the  incense  of  popular  applause  —  a 
name  to  live  in  future  generations;  something 
that  the  grave  cannot  extinguish,  and  death  take 
away,  that  is  the  goal  to  strive  for  !  Aye,  ambi- 
tion is  the  only  passion  worthy  a  master  mind." 
He  re-entered  the  house  and  went  to  his  library. 


26  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

The  sight  of  his  accustomed  work-room  seemed 
to  banish  the  shadow  on  his  countenance.  "  Bless- 
ed— blessed  labor,  what  a. balm  thou  art!"  he 
apostrophized  as  with  a  sort  of  eagerness  he 
threw  himself  in  a  chair,  seized  a  pen,  and  fol- 
lowed a  new  train  of  ideas. 

A  singular  fit  of  despondency  this  in  one  bask- 
ing in  the  smiles  of  Fortune,  and  who  had  so 
steadily  enjoyed  her  favors ;  for  the  capricious 
dame  had  marked  Rufus  Heath  for  a  favorite 
long  ago  by  a  significant  gift  plainly  indicative 
of  her  partiality.  This  gift,  or  stroke  of  luck, 
was  the  winning  at  his  start  in  life  of  a  lottery 
prize,  which  sudden  affluence,  judiciously  in- 
vested, had  led  to  the  splendid  culmination  now 
apparent. 

Mi\  Heath  was  in  his  library,  a  large  room  ad- 
joining his  bedchamber,  which  also  answered  the 
purposes  of  a  study,  and  was  furnished  with  leath- 
ern-covered chairs,  and  surrounded  by  closely 
filled  book-cases  of  polished  walnut,  surmounted 
at  intervals  with  marble  busts  of  the  giants  of  in- 
tellect. A  long  table  in  the  centre  of  the  room 
was  covered  with  maps,  manuscripts,  and  works  of 


MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE.  27 

reference.  At  one  end  Mr.  Heath  sat  intently 
writing.  His  early  habits  of  industry  he  stitl 
carried  almost  to  excess.  Idleness  filched  but  few 
moments  from  him,  and  by  a  thorough  system  he 
managed  to  perform  an  amount  of  labor  that 
would  have  been  deemed  prodigious  in  a  close 
student.  The  work  that  engrossed  the  most  of 
his  time,  the  opus  magnus,  was  the  preparation  of 
a  pandect  wherein  the  constitutions,  statutes,  and 
enactments  of  the  various  States  of  the  Union 
would  be  digested  and  reconciled  into  one  har- 
monious code  of  laws.  The  mere  gathering  and 
collating  of  material  for  this  purpose  involved  a 
formidable  amount  of  labor,  and  when  in  addi- 
tion to  this  we  consider  that  he  supervised  the 
accounts  of  the  estate  and  kept  up  a  voluminous 
correspondence  with  statesmen  and  politicians  in 
all  parts  of  the  country,  we  may  imagine  that  he 
had  but  few  spare  moments. 

Behind  him  on  the  wall  hung  the  symbol  of  his 
weakness — an  illuminated  achievement  intended 
to  represent  the  arms  of  the  Heath  family. 
Should  a  visitor's  attention  be  attracted  by  this 
heraldic  device,  the  host  was  only  too  happy  to  ex- 
plain the  mystery  of  crest  and  quarterings,  and 


28  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

to  dilate  on  his  lineage,  tracing  its  common  origin 
with  that  of  a  distinguished  English  ducal  family. 
For  Rufus  Heath,  in  his  heart  of  hearts,  despised 
a  republic  and  had  no  faith  in  the  stability  of  its 
institutions.  His  ideal  of  a  government  was  an 
oligarchy,  with  him  and  his  like  as  oligarchs. 
Outwardly  he  professed  the  stanchest  republican- 
ism and  devotion  to  equal  rights. 

So  absorbed  had  Mr.  Heath  become  in  his  oc- 
cupation that  he  heeded  not  his  daughter  as  she 
came  to  ask  him  to  breakfast.  She  entered  the 
study  softly,  and  almost  timidly,  for  she  held  her 
father  in  a  certain  awe  and  dreaded  to  disturb 
him.  It  was  only  when  she  laid  her  hand  lightly 
on  his  shoulder  that  he  discovered  her  presence. 
"Father,  good-morning,"  said  she,  seeking  to 
press  her  lips  to  his  cheek. 

"  Ah !  Miss  Edna.  Is  that  you  ? "  he  replied, 
impassively,  and  slowly  disengaging  her  arm  from 
his  neck.  "Good-morning.  Leave  me,  child; 
I  will  be  with  you  in  an  instant." 

There  was  no  unkiudness  in  the  tone,  but  there 
was  no  warmth.  The  few  words  that  had  passed 
between  them  revealed  enough  to  indicate  to  an 
observant  witness  the  history  of  a  daughter's 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  29 

heart,  eager  for  the  affection  of  a  parent  insulat- 
ed from  domestic  ties  by  egotistic  worldliness. 

Mr.  Heath  laid  aside  his  pen,  passed  to  his 
chamber,  and  arranged  his  toilet  preparatory  to 
the  morning  repast.  He  then  descended  the 
stairs  as  if  a  chamberlain  preceded  him  ;  entered 
the  breakfast-room  with  a  stately  nod  to  those 
present,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  table  gravely, 
and  with  an  apology  for  his  tardiness.  After 
a  scrutinizing  glance  around,  a  preparatory  pause 
followed,  and  then,  bending  low  his  head,  he  in- 
voked the  Divine  blessing.  The  meals  in  that 
family  were  not  at  any  time  those  cheerful  family 
gatherings  that  diversify  existence  so  pleasantly, 
but  serious  proceedings,  conducted  with  severe 
propriety,  the  head  of  the  house  being  exceed- 
ingly punctilious  on  that  score.  On  this  morn- 
ing, naturally  enough,  a  greater  solemnity  pre- 
vailed, and  the  breakfast  was  passed  almost  in 
silence.  Mrs.  Applegate,  a  widow,  and  elder  sis- 
ter of  Mr.  Heath,  presided.  She  had  been  in- 
stalled housekeeper  on  the  death  of  her  brother's 
wife,  and  occupied  the  post  at  table  that  should 
have  devolved  upon  young  Mrs.  Heath,  -but  that 
lady  was  too  indifferent,  and  disinclined  to  any 


30 


exertion  to  fill  it.  She  was  a  Creole  by  birtli,  the 
daughter  of  a  Yankee  machinist  who  had  mar- 
ried the  very  wealthy  widow  of  a  Cuban  planter. 
This  machinist,  Sam  "Wolvern,  previous  to  going 
to  the  West  Indies,  had  learned  his  trade  in  Bel- 
ton,  and  after  the  death  of  his  wife  returned 
there  to  live.  Dying  soon  after  his  arrival,  he 
left  Mr.  Heath  sole  guardian  of  the  person  and 
fortune  of  his  only  child,  Mercedita  Wolvern. 
So  well  did  the  guardian  manage  his  trust,  that 
he  succeeded,  in  due  time,  in  transferring  his 
ward  and  her  fortune  to  the  custody  of  his  son. 
This  occasioned  some  unfavorable  tattle,  but  as 
Mercedita  Wolvern,  a  pale,  feeble  girl,  had  no 
will  of  her  own,  it  may  have  been  justifiable  in 
somebody  else's  having  one  for  her,  if  matters 
had  turned  out  well.  Unfortunately  they  did 
not,  for  her  husband,  with  all  the  arrogance 
and  vanity,  and  none  of  the  brains  of  his  sire, 
was  possessed  of  sundry  vices,  which  rendered 
him  anything  but  an  agreeable  life  companion. 
A  spoiled  boy,  indulged  and  toadied,  he  easily 
fell  into  the  snares  that  beset  rich  men's  sons,  and 
grew  up  a  worthless  and  dissipated  man.  Hia 
father  desjgned  him  for  the  legal  profession,  but 


MA&K  GILDEESLEEVE.  31 

"  living  like  a  hermit  and  working  like  a  horse," 
was  not  at  all  to  the  taste  of  young  Hopeful. 
Hence,  in  the  hope  that  an  early  marriage  might 
reform  him, — to  say  nothing  of  the  pecuniary  ad- 
vantages of  such  a  match, — his  father  had  given 
him  poor  weak  Mercedita,  and  her  fortune,  to 
wife.  And  a  wretched  connubial  existence  she 
had  of  it,  for  Jack  Heath  added  drunkenness  to 
his  other  unamiable  traits,  and  was  hardly  sober 
from  one  day  to  another.  This,  of  course,  cre- 
ated much  uneasiness  in  the  father's  mind,  who 
naturally  hoped  that  his  son  would  at  least  per- 
petuate the  family  name  with  dignity,  if  he  were 
incapable  of  shedding  lustre  on  it. 

"  Where  is  John  ? "  inquired  Mr.  Heath  of  his 
daughter-in-law,  as  he  noticed  his  son's  absence 
from  the  table. 

"  Sleeping,  I  presume,  sir,"  replied  the  young 
wife ;  "  I  heard  the  clock  strike  one  before  he  came 
in  last  night." 

"  What !  again  ?     And  last  night  of  all  nights ! " 

escaped  from  the  father's  lips.      Ordinarily  his 

pride  prevented  him  from  showing  displeasure  at 

his  son's  misconduct,  in  the  presence  of  others, 

kbut  that  John  should  have  so  far  forgotten  him- 


32  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

self  as  to  indulge  in  a  debauch  on  the  very  day 
of  his  grandfather's  funeral ;  that  he  should  have 
gone  in  his  mourning  clothes  to  the  town  bar- 
rooms, liis  usual  haunts,  and  swaggered  tipsily 
along  the  streets,  a  spectacle  of  shame,  furnish- 
ing food  for  scandal  for  a  month — for  the  Heath 
family  were  considered  in  the  light  of  public  per- 
sonages, and  every  act  of  theirs  was  commented 
on  by  all  Belton — this,  all  this,  touched  Mr.  Heath 
keenly.  His  daughter,  who  was  seated  beside 
him,  noticed  his  clouded  brow,  and  asked  him 
with  anxiety,  if  anything  ailed  him  ? 

"  No,  nothing,  child,"  he  replied,  and  turning 
to  the  colored  servant  in  attendance  bade  him 
summon  John  at  once.  Edna,  the  daughter,  had 
but  just  returned  from  boarding-school,  where 
she  had  spent  the  greater  part  of  three  previous 
years;  hence  she  knew  but  little  of  her  broth- 
er's habits,  and  imagined  that  a  lack  of  respect 
on  his  part  was  all  that  had  disturbed  her  usually 
imperturbable  father. 

It's  the  old  Obershaw  blood  in  him — the  coarse 

tastes  which  he  inherits  from  his  grandfather,  re- 

*  fleeted  Mr.  Heath  with  bitterness.     The  old  man 

had  the  same  propensity,  but  avarice  smothered  it 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  33 

in  him.  With  a  sigh  he  turned  toward  his  daugh- 
ter for  consolation.  His  looks  dwelt  on  her,  and 
it  seemed  as  if  it  were  the  first  time  he  had  ever 
noticed  her  beauty.  How  lovely  she  has  grown, 
thought  he.  A  true  Heath — if  she  were  only  a 
boy !  Still,  why  should  she  not  aspire,  and  reflect 
honor  on  me  ?  I  shall  be  Governor  of  this  State, 
next  a  foreign  mission,  an  ambassadorship.  All 
she  would  need  is  the  opportunity.  Did  ever 
coronet  grace  a  fairer  brow?  My  daughter  a 
countess  or  a  marchioness — is  there  anything  im- 
possible or  improbable  in  that  ? 

While  Mr.  Heath  was  in  the  midst  of  his  fan- 
ciful cogitations,  the  object  of  them  was  eating 
in  a  matter-of-fact  way,  and  in  utter  unconscious- 
ness of  the  ambitious  views  she  had  awakened. 
Nevertheless,  there  was  everything  to  justify  her 
father's  pride  and  hopes;  for  Edna,  a  girl  of 
seventeen,  had  a  graceful  figure,  a  cheek  as  deli- 
cate as  a  rose-petal,  soft  steel-blue  eyes  with 
dark  lashes  and  brows,  hair  the  hue  of  ripe 
wheat,  and  that  indescribable  sweetness  of  ex- 
pression in  which  American  maidens  surpass  all 
others.  Her  plain,  black  dress,  relieved  only  by  a 

white  collar  and  wristbands,  did  not  in  the  least 

2* 


34:  MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE. 

detract  from  her  appearance,  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, enhanced  her  clear  complexion  to  bril- 
liancy. So  her  father  thought,  and  his  heart 
swelled  with  new-born  pride  in  the  possession  of 
such  a  child.  There  was  an  unusual  tenderness 
in  his  voice  when  he  questioned  her,  "Edna, 
what  are  you  going  to  do  this  morning  ?  " 

It  was  a  purposeless  question,  meant  simply  to 
attract  her  attention  towards  him. 

Edna  turned  her  face  towards  her  father  with 

an  inquiring  look,  for  the  query  was  a  very  unusual 

joue.     "  I  intend  to  call  on  Ada  Mumbie ;  I  left 

my  crochet-work  there  on  Monday,  and  am  going 

after  it.     Have  you  any  errand  for  me,  sir  ? " 

"  No,  daughter.  Crochet-work  is  certainly  im- 
portant business,  and  should  not  be  neglected," 
replied  her  father  with  a  smile.  "  I  hope,  how- 
ever, you  have  other  and  better  ways  of  employ- 
ing your  time." 

"  I  trust  so,  sir,"  said  Edna. 

"  I  wish,  my  child,  you  would  adopt  the  plan 
of  writing  me  a  letter  every  day,  or  every  other 
day  will  do.  It  matters  not  how  short  it  may  be' 
— a  few  sentences  will  suffice. "  But  I  want  it 
done  as  well  as  you  know  how,  and  have  you  bestow 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  35 

thought  upon  it.  Let  it  consist  of  a  criticism  on 
some  book  you  have  read,  or  some  picture  you 
have  seen.  For  instance,  you  might  begin  to  write 
criticisms  on  the  pictures  in  the  gallery  in  succes- 
sion, varying  them,  however,  with  such  opinions 
of  other  matters,  persons,  or  objects  as  may  strike 
your  fancy.  But  what  I  want  are  your  ideas  and 
none  other,  expressed  in  the  best  language  you 
are  capable  of.  You  will  do  so,  will  you  not  ? " 
"  Certainly,  father,  if  it  pleases  you." 
"  Well,  but  I  don't  want  you  to  do  it  solely  be- 
cause it  pleases  me.  I  want  you  to  acquire  a 
taste  for  such  employment.  I  was.  looking  over 
some  of  your  letters  from  school  the  other  day, 
and  I  was  very  well  pleased  with  the  style,  but  I 
noticed  a  lack  of  thought.  True,  you  are  still 
young,  and  can  hardly  be  expected  to  evince  much 
of  that,  but  I  want  to  cultivate  your  mind  in 
that  respect,  and  now  is  the  time  to  begin.  Bear 
in  mind,  skill  in  epistolary  writing  is  a  great  ac- 
complishment ;  especially  so  in  a  woman,"  con- 
tinued Mr.  Heath ;  then  turning  to  his  daughter- 
in-law  he  said,  "  Mercedita,  I  have  an  appoint- 
ment at  the  bank  at  ten.  I  shall  be  back  at 
eleven.  Tell  John  I  shall  expect  to  find  him  in 


36  MABK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

the  library  waiting  for  me  at  that  hour.  I  have 
business  for  him.  I  want  some  copying  done. 
Mr.  Frisbee  has  more  than  he  can  attend  to  now ; " 
and  Mr.  Heath  rose  to  leave.  As  he  opened  the 
door  to  go  out  he  stopped  for  a  moment,  reflect- 
ively, with  his  hand  on  the  knob,  "  Edna." 

"  Yes,  father,"  replied  the  young  girl,  rising 
and  going  towards  him. 

"When  you  return  from  your  visit,  come  up 
into  the  library.  I  shall  select  some  works  I  wish 
you  to  read.  Don't  fail,  my  dear;"  and  Mr. 
Heath,  before  leaving,  imprinted  a  light  kiss  on 
his  daughter's  forehead.  She  received  it  with  an 
expression  of  pleased  surprise.  It  was  the  first 
time  he  had  ever  favored  her  in  that  way.  So 
unwonted  a  demonstration  of  tenderness  on  the 
part  of  her  brother  even  caused  Mrs.  Applegate 
to  pause  in  the  act  of  pouring  out  her  fourth 
cup  of  tea,  and  stare  at  the  scene.  "  Edna  seems 
to  be  in  favor  this  morning,"  she  remarked  when 
Mr.  Heath  had  left,  "but  John,  I  am  afraid, 
Mercedita,  has  greatly  offended  his  father,  and  is 
very  much  in  disfavor." 

"  O  Mercedita ! "  added  Edna,  "  do  beg  him  to 
apologize  to  father  at  once,  and  try  and  make 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  37 

amends.  Just  think  how  troubled  father  must  be 
at  grandfather's  death,  and  that  Jack  should  add 
to  his  grief  is  too  bad.  Do,  please,  entreat  him, 
Mercedita,  to — r 

"  I  do  not  pretend  to  have  any  influence  what- 
ever over  John.  I  might  have,  if  he  had  any  con- 
sideration for  my  feelings ;  but  as  I  am  sure  he 
has  never  shown  the  slightest,  of  what  use  would 
my  remonstrances  or  pleadings  be  ?  He  may 
follow  the  path  he  has  chosen  without  any  inter- 
ference from  me,"  answered  the  young  wife  with 
an  affected  indifference. 

"  Father  expects  him  at  eleven,"  said  Edna, 
"  and  I  hope  Jack  will  be  punctual.  I  wouldn't 
have  father  continue  angry  at  him  for  the  world. 
I  wonder  if  James  has  told  him  ?  I'll  go  and 
see ; "  and  she  hurried  off,  in  her  anxiety  to  recon- 
cile her  father  and  brother. 

"  I  think,  Mercedita,  if  you  took  John  in  the 
right  way,"  said  Mrs.  Applegate,  "  you  might  do 
a  good  deal  with  him.  He  is  as  good-hearted  a 
person  as  ever  lived.  He's  whimsical,  to  be  sure, 
and  perhaps  we  all  indulged  him  a  little  too  much 
when  he  was  a  boy.  I'll  not  deny  that.  But  then, 
you  know,  a  little  coaxing  will  go  a  great  ways." 


33  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 


A  shrug  of  the  shoulders  was  the  only  reply 
the  young  wife  deigned  to  make  to  this  advice, 
and  Mrs.  Applegate  continued  :  "  Now,  I've  had 
a  good  deal  of  experience  in  these  matters,  and  I 
recollect  very  distinctly,  when  Mr.  Applegate  and 
I  were  first  married,  he  was  as  full  of  whims  and 
notions  as  could  be,  and  naturally  it  was  a  source 
of  trouble  in  more  ways  than  one  to  me.  Mr. 
Applegate  utterly  detested  cats  for  one  thing  — 
couldn't  bear  'em  ;  indeed,  he  had  such  a  great 
detestation  of  them,  that  I  verily  believe  it  actu- 
ally affected  his  system  ;  though,  to  be  sure,  he  was 
consumptive,  and  subject  to  constant  attacks  of 
dyspepsia.  I've  heard  of  many  such  cases.  Not 
long  ago  I  read  in  the  papers  an  account  of  some 
distinguished  person  —  I  forget  the  name,  now, 
though  it's  a  familiar  one  —  let  me  see,  I  think  it 
was  Alexander  the  Great,  or  it  might  have  been 
Luther,  I  won't  be  certain  which  ;  but  at  all 
events  it  was  some  well-known  and  distinguished 
person  who  was  thrown  into  convulsions  every 
time  he  saw  a  black  rabbit  —  no,  not  a  black  rab- 
bit, but  a  drawn  sword.  It  was  another  well- 
known  person  who  was  affected  in  a  similar  way 
by  a  black  rabbit.  Now  this  goes  to  show  —  " 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE.  39 

What  this  went  to  show  we  are  unable  to  say, 
for  at  this  point,  Mrs.  Applegate's  instructive, 
though  somewhat  irrelevant  discourse,  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  entrance  of  Jack  Heath,  who  was 
evidently  in  no  amiable  frame  of  mind,  and 
under  the  influence,  probably,  of  the  whimsical 
state  alluded  to  by  his  kinswoman.  He  took  his 
seat  in  sulky  silence,  and  then  began  to  scold  the 
waiter.  He  found  fault  with  everything — the 
steak  was  too  cold,  the  eggs  too  hard,  the  tea 
too  hot,  the  toast  too  dry,  etc.  The  two  ladies 
looked  on  without  venturing  a  remark.  From 
the  dull,  sodden  look  of  his  eyes,  and  his  care- 
lessly brushed  hair,  Jack's  rest  and  peace  of  mind 
had  evidently  been  badly  disturbed.  He  was 
large  and  unduly  corpulent  for  so  young  a  man, 
being  barely  two-and-twenty,  although  he  might 
have  passed  for  ten  years  older;  and  on  his  fat 
face  the  freshness  of  youth  had  given  place  to 
the  inflamed  flush  of  the  toper.  After  a  few 
mouthfuls  he  could  contain  himself  no  longer, 
and  vented  his  spleen  in  a  grumbling  tirade. 
"  Seems  to  me  there's  a  devil  of  a  row  here 
about  nothing.  Can't  have  a  bit  of  comfort  in 
this  house.  Come  home  tired  and  want  to  have 


40  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

my  sleep  out,  and  along  conies  James  drumming 
away  at  my  door  as  if  the  bouse  was  on  fire ; 
says  the  old  man  sent  him — then  Edna,  she  must 
come  bothering  me  to  get  up.  Confound  it, 
some  of  you  women  are  at  the  bottom  of  it  all, 
I'll  bet.  Been  complaining  to  the  old  man,  have 
you?" 

This  last  was  directed  with  a  scowl  to  his  wife, 
who,  without  condescending  to  reply,  arose  from 
her  chair  and  wrapping  her  shawl  close  about  her, 
swept  out  of  the  room  indignant,  leaving  Mrs. 
Applegate  to  confront  Jack's  temper  alone. 

"  A  young  feller's  a  fool  that  get's  married," 
continued  Jack,  addressing  no  one  in  particular. 

Mrs.  Applegate,  feeling  this  apothegm  to  be 
rather  a  reflection  on  her  sex,  and  one  which 
ought  not  to  pass  unchallenged,  ventured  a  mild 
qualification.  "Well,  John,  it  depends  very 
much  whether  the  fellow,  as  you  call  him,  is  of 
a  domestic  disposition  or  not.  Now,  there  is 
great  difference  in  people,  and  especially  in  mar- 
ried couples.  There  was  Mr.  Applegate,  for  in- 
stance ;  I'm  sure  no  one  could  have  led  a  happier 
life,  and  he  often  used  to  say  to  me,  '  My 
dear—'" 


MAEK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  41 

"  I  say,"  repeated  the  nephew,  dogmatically, 
"  that  a  young  feller's  a  fool  that  gets  married. 
That's  all.  And  he'll  find  it  out  sooner  or  later, 
I'll  bet  he  does.  To  have  a  woman  always  tied 
to  you,  that  goes  whining  around  and  complain- 
ing if  a  feller  comes  in  late,  or  has  been  on  a 
little  jamboree  with  a  friend  and  gets  a  little 
set  up.  I'd  rather  be  hung  and  be  done  with 
it." 

"  Dear  me,  John,  I  wouldn't  go  on  so  about 
it,"  said  his  aunt,  placatingly.  "  To  be  sure  I  don't 
ever  remember  of  Mr.  Applegate's  going  on  a 
jam — jamoree,  as  you  call  it,  as  he  was  always 
afraid  of  dampness  and  night  air  ;  but  then  you 
must  admit  that  it  isn't  the  pleasantest  thing  in 
the  world  to  be  wakened  out  of  a  sound  sleep,  or 
to  sit  up  waiting  for  some  one  to  come  home, 
particularly  if  you  are  anyway  delicate;  and 
young  people  should  bear  in  mind  that  the  easiest 
way  is  always  the  best." 

Mrs.  Applegate  added  a  few  more  mollifying 
sentences  of  the  same  general  application,  until 
Jack,  having  by  this  time  finished  his  breakfast, 
seemed  to  be  appeased,  and  remarked  in  rather 
more  peaceful  tones,  that  he  "  was  off  his  feed," 


42  MAKE   GELDEKSLEEVE. 

a  statement  which  might  well  cause  an  onlooker 
to  wonder  how  much  provender  Jack  consumed 
when  he  was  "  on  his  feed."  Then  pulling  out 
a  case,  he  struck  a  match  and  lit  a  cigar,  re- 
marking as  he  did  so  to  his  aunt :  "  Old  man 
want's  me  in  the  library  punctually  at  eleven, 
does  he  ?  Think  I  see  myself.  Not  to-day,  thank 
you.  If  I'm  there  I  guess  he'll  know  it.  As 
the  Frenchman  said, '  I've  got  to  fry  some  fish,' " 
and  off  he  lounged  to  the  stables. 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  43 


III. 

THE  Hon.  Ruf  us  Heath,  in  requesting  his  son's 
attendance  in  the  library  that  morning,  had  reck- 
oned without  the  "  Horse-show."  For  that  day 
was  the  concluding  one  of  the  County  Agricul- 
tural Fair,  which,  though  held  ostensibly  in 
honor  of  sundry  overgrown  vegetables  and  patch- 
work quilts,  derived  its  principal  attraction  from 
the  "  Grand  Exhibition  of  Bloocl  and  other 
Horses,"  which  terminated  it.  The  exhibition 
consisted  in  a  number  of  fast  nags  showing  their 
points,  and  competing  for  prizes  on  a  race-course 
conveniently  near  the  fair-grounds.  To  attend 
these  "trials  of  speed"  was  far  more  to  John 
Peter  Heath's  taste,  than  to  be  immured  in  his 
father's  library  copying  tedious  documents. 
Hence  he  did  not  deliberate  long  over  the  pater- 
nal mandate,  and  was  soon  spinning  away  com- 
fortably behind  his  trotting  mare  to  the  fair.  He 
stayed  there  the  greater  part  of  the  day;  swag- 
gering over  the  grounds  with  a  knowing  air; 


44  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

noisily  backing  horses  by  bets  with  stable-men 
and  blacklegs,  and  losing  some  of  his  wife's 
money  which  rather  soured  him,  for  Jack  had  a 
decided  streak  of  stinginess  in  his  character,  and 
disliked  extremely  to  part  with  money  that  had 
not  ministered  to  his  selfish  gratifications.  So, 
to  console  himself  for  his  ill-luck,  he  repaired  to 
a  public-house  hard  by,  and  cracked  bottles  of 
wine  with  boon  companions  until  the  remembrance 
of  his  losses  supervened,  and  he  became  ob- 
streperous ;  swore  he  had  been  cheated ;  grew 
abusive ;  drew  off  his  coat  to  fight  anybody,  and 
but  for  the  interposition  of  the  landlord,  might 
have  received  a  severe  pommelling.  In  this  con- 
dition he  mounted  his  vehicle  to  return  home. 
The  spirited  little  mare,  having  been  kept  so  long 
waiting  at  the  tavern  door,  had  become  restive, 
and  it  was 'with  some  difficulty  that  she  could  be 
held  by  the  hostler  while  Jack  got  into  the  wagon. 
He  gathered  the  reins,  flung  a  dime  to  the  man, 
and  the  mare  released,  sped  off  like  an  arrow. 

The  sun  was  setting  as  Jack  crossed  the  bridge 
over  the  Passaic  at  the  north  end  of  town,  and  the 
toll-gatherer  noticed  that  the  driver  was  (as  he 
had  often  seen  him  before)  in  liquor.  Jack 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  45 

Heath  was  not  at  any  time  a  very  pleasing  object 
to  look  at,  and  still  less  so  when  in  his  cups, 
for  his  tipsiness  bore  an  expression  of  defiant 
arrogance  that  boded  no  good  to  intermeddlers. 
Thus,  flown  with  insolence  and  wine,  along  he 
went,  lashing  his  horse  and  driving  recklessly  up 
the  principal  street  of  the  town,  in  utter  disregard 
of  the  wayfarers,  whom  he  roughly  ordered  with 
an  oath  to  get  out  of  his  way.  Just  at  that  mo- 
ment a  young  man,  with  a  slight  limp  in  his  gait, 
was  crossing  the  street,  who  seemed  in  no  haste 
to  accelerate  his  pace  at  Jack  Heath's  bidding. 
A  well-dressed  young  fellow  he  was,  of  about 
twenty,  with  a  dash  of  pretension  in  his  appear- 
ance, and  a  light  in  his  eye  that  betokened  a  spirit 
not  likely  to  brook  dictation.  Jack,  unfortu- 
nately, was  not  in  a  condition  to  discriminate,  and 
as  he  approached  the  pedestrian,  yelled,  with  a 
curse,  "  Ki-hi — cripple !  Out  of  the  way,  or  I'll 
run  over  you!"  No  sooner  were  these  words 
uttered,  than  the  young  man,  pale  with  anger, 
raised  a  light  cane  he  carried,  and  struck  fiercely 
at  the  horse's  head.  The  nervous  animal,  fright- 
ened at  this  sudden  attack,  sprang  off  sideways, 
dashing  the  light  j  agger  against  the  curb,  and 


46  MAKK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

sending  its  occupant  headlong  to  the  earth.  Such 
an  excitement  in  the  quiet  street !  The  disaster 
occurred  directly  opposite  McGoffin's  "Shoe 
Emporium,"  and  that  honest  tradesman  ran  out, 
leaving  Miss  "Winter  (a  highly  respectable  maiden 
lady  whom  he  was  about  measuring  for  bootees)  to 
expose  in  her^  agitation  and  stockings  her  some- 
what large  and  bulbous  feet  to  the  brutal  gaze  of 
a  gathering  crowd.  The  colored  barber  from  over 
the  way  hastened  to  the  spot  with  a  razor  in  his 
hand,  followed  .by  a  half-shaved  client  with  lath- 
ered face  and  bib  on,  and  then  in  quick  succession 
loungers  from  the  "  Tanglefoot  Saloon  "  and  cor- 
ner grocery.  Meanwhile,  the  cause  of  all  this 
trouble,  whom  we  may  as  well  introduce  to  the 
reader  at  once  as  Mark  Gildersleeve,  forgot  his 
resentment  on  seeing  the  plight  of  his  insulter, 
and  hurried  off  for  a  physician,  under  the  impres- 
sion that,  perhaps,  Jack  Heath  was  killed.  There 
he  lay  in  the  kennel,  stunned,  with  a  cut  on  his 
sconce  and  a  contemplative  crowd  about  him. 
Discussions  arose  as  to  whether  he  was  dead  or 
dying,  and  a  glass  of  brandy  was  put  to  his  lips 
as  a  test ;  it  probably  being  deemed  conclusive  that 
if  he  did  not  drink,  or  at  least  taste  the  beverage, 


MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE.  47 

he  must  be  very  nearly  in  the  former  condition. 
As  he  did  neither,  his  case  looked  hopeless,  and 
some  one  suggested  removing  him  to  the  apothe- 
cary's shop ;  Jmt  Mr.  Snopple,  the  photographer,  a 
little  fat  man  who  diffused  an  aroma  of  collodion 
about  him,  protested  strenuously,  reminding  the 
by-standers  that  it  would  be  a  violation  of  the 
law,  and  render  a  person,  liable  to  prosecution  to 
disturb  the  body  until  the  coroner  came  and  an 
inquest  was  held.  Advice  not  altogether  disinter- 
ested on  the  part  of  Mr.  Snopple,  who,  in  his  profes- 
sional zeal,  saw  at  once  an  excellent  opportunity 
for  an  effective  picture,  and  did  not  wish  the 
group  disturbed  while  he  hastened  off  to  his 
studio  for  a  camera.  Unfortunately  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  art,  before  he  returned,  George 
Gildersleeve,  the  ubiquitous,  appeared  on  the  scene. 
Here  was  a  man  of  action.  He  took  one  hand 
out  of  its  pocket,  felt  of  Jack  and  pronounced 
him  "right  enough,"  and  then  addressing  the 
crowd  said,  "  Lay  hold  here,  boys,  some  of  you, 
and  toss  him  into  this  cart  and  get  him  home. 
He's  hefty." 

And  "  hefty  "  he  was,  sure  enough,  and  it  took 
some  tugging  from  strong  arms  to  lift  the  dead 


48  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

weight  of  his  bulky  form  into  a  grocer's  cart  near 
at  hand,  for  the  racing  jagger  was  badly  broken, 
and  the  mare  had  scampered  off  with  the  thills. 

By  this  time  Mark  Gildersleeve  had  returned 
with  Dr.  Wattletop,  and  the  latter  accompanied 
Jack  to  his  home,  where  the  fears  of  his  relatives 
were  speedily  allayed  by  his  being  pronounced 
not  seriously  injured,  but  uncommonly  drunk. 

When  Dr.  Wattletop  returned  to  his  domicil 
he  found  Mark  Gildersleeve  awaiting  him.  "  How 
is  he,  doctor  ?  "  eagerly  asked  the  young  man. 

"  Oh  bless  you,  he'll  do.  The  devil  takes  care 
of  his  own.  Born  to  be  hung,  you  know,  and  so 
forth.  A  simple  contusion — plastered  it  up — 
he'll  be  all  right  when  he  gets  sober.  lie's  just 
ugly  enough,  too,  to  appear  worse  than  he  is,  and 
frightened  his  sweet  little  sister  out  of  her  wits. 
The  others,  though,  didn't  seem  to  mind  it  so 
much,  and  no  wonder.  But  what  makes  you  so 
anxious  about  him  ?  When  you  came  after  me, 
you  looked  so  pale  and  agitated  hopes  arose  of  a 
profitable  patient.  They're  not  so  plenty  now  as 
they  might  be,  and  I  welcome  them  with  joy  and 
gratitude,"  said  the  doctor,  tapping  Mark  famil- 
iarly on  the  shoulder. 


MAEK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  49 

"I  feel  so  relieved,  doctor;  I  was  afraid  he 
might  be  seriously  hurt.  He  provoked  me,  and  I 
retaliated.  Had  I  noticed  or  known  that  he  was 
drunk,  perhaps  I  would  not  have  minded  him. 
He  fell  so  heavily  that  I  feared  he  might  have 
broken  his  neck." 

"  He  might,  I  grant,  but  he  didn't.  More's  the 
pity,  perhaps,  for  his  friends  and  family.  Es- 
pecially for  that  poor  wife  of  his,  whom  he  will 
certainly  kill  in  time,  if  he  don't  kill  himself  first. 
But,  so  you  were  the  one  that  caused  all  this  row, 
eh  ?  You  didn't  say  anything  about  that  before. 
How  dared  you,  rash  youth,  raise  your  ire  against 
the  heir-apparent  ?  Fear  you  not  the  wrath  of  the 
prince-regnant  ?  Know  ye  not  that  for  thrift  to 
follow  it  is  as  necessary  now,  as  ever,  to  fawn  to 
wealth  and  position  ?  Anchylosis,  my  boy,  inva- 
riably affects  the  pocket,  mind  that !  " 

"  If  it  were  not  for — "  began  Mark,  with  a  de- 
termined look,  which  he  suddenly  checked,  to 
add  with  a  quiet  smile,  "  No  one  knows  better 
than  you,  doctor,  what  little  store  I  set  by  thrift, 
or  any  considerations  of  that  kind.  I  trust  my 
ambition  aims  higher  than  that." 

"  Fresh  and  admirable  adolescence  !     Roseate 
3 


50  MATCTT  GILDEESLEEVE. 

age,  when  the  glistening  soap-bubble,  Fame,  hath 
more  charms  than  substantial  shekels  !  So  be  it, 
and  well  it  is  so,  for  without  those  soft  illusions 
the  aridity  of  existence  would  be  insupportable, 
the  world  a  desert  and  life  a  blank.  And  now, 
my  boy,  wliile  I  wash  my  hands  bring  out  the 
chess-board.  I'll  give  you  a  bishop  to-night,  and 
unless  I  am  interrupted  by  some  silly  biped  seek- 
ing admittance  to  this  sphere  of  trouble,  or  some 
still  sillier  one  reluctant  to  leave  it,  we'll  have  a 
snug  hour  or  two  of  enjoyment.  So,  votary  of 
Caissa,  to  chess — to  chess." 

Soon  the  polished  dome  of  the  doctor's  capa- 
cious head,  and  the  curly  black  pate  of  the  young 
man,  were  bent  in  intense  study  over  the  check- 
ered field  of  mimic  battle.  In  silence  passed  the 
moments  until  a  scratching  at  the  door  announced 
a  visitor.  "  Ah,  Dagon  1  Open  the  door,  Mark, 
and  let  him  in,  please,"  said  the  doctor. 

The  young  man  complied,  and  a  large  black 
Newfoundland  dog  walked  gravely  in  towards 
the  doctor,  and  rested  his  head  on  his  master's 
knee  to  be  caressed.  "  True  friend— faithful  heart  I 
Mark,  three  winters  ago  that  dog  saved  my  life. 
I  was  called  out  the  night  of  the  great  snow- 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  51 

storm  to  go  to  the  Furnaces,  and  but  for  Dagon 
your  most  obedient  wouldn't  be  here.  I've  told 
it  you  before,  I  believe,  so  I'll  not  repeat  the  cir- 
cumstances, but  I  love  to  dwell  on  them.  Last 
spring  he  drew  a  child  out  of  the  canal ;  he  would 
allow  himself  to  be  cut  to  pieces  for  me,  and  yet 
they  say  he  has  no  soul!  The  Turks  say  the 
same  of  women.  Are  we  any  wiser  ?  They  say, 
too,  he  has  no  reason.  Look  at  his  expressive, 
sagacious  eye.  The  gibbering  idiot  has  a  soul, 
the  vilest  miscreant  reason ;  but  this  noble  animal 
has  neither,  'tis  said,  and  man's  vanity  invents  in- 
stinct !  O  man — man,  what  a  conceited  fool  thou 
art !  Check,  eh  ?  Ha  !  a  bold  move,  my  boy." 

The  doctor's  speculations  were  cut  short  by  a 
brilliant  stroke  on  the  part  of  his  adversary,  and 
as  the  game  is  becoming  more  absorbing,  and  the 
players  less  communicative,  we  will  leave  them, 
to  digress  a  little. 

Dr.  Basil  "Wattletop  had  been  an  English  army- 
surgeon,  and  as  such  had  spent  much  of  his  time 
in  foreign  parts.  How  he  came  to  drift  into 
Belton,  no  one  knew  positively,  although  there 
was  a  legend  that  he  had  stopped  there  one  day, 
on  his  way  from  Canada,  to  view  the  cataract, 


52  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

and  had  remained  in  the  town  ever  since.  Be 
this  as  it  might,  there  he  was  and  had  been  for 
many  years,  enjoying  a  lucrative  practice,  as  he 
doubtless  well  deserved,  for  he  was  a  skilful  prac- 
titioner. An  odd-looking  man  he  was,  a  bachelor 
of  very  uncertain  age,  yet  hale  and  vigorous ;  in 
person  short  and  rotund,  like  the  typical  Briton 
of  mature  years,  with  thin  wisps  of  brown  hair 
brushed  around  his  bald  crown,  and  large  search- 
ing dark  eyes  set  in  a  long,  grave,  rubicund  face. 
In  attire  inclined  to  carelessness,  but  scrupulous 
as  to  polished  shoes  and  immaculate  linen,  wear- 
ing collars  perilously  starched  over  a  throttling 
black  stock,  the  buckle  and  tag  of  which  promi- 
nently ornamented  his  nape.  Partial  indeed  was 
he  to  this  stock,  despite  the  sway  of  fashion.  In 
moments  of  caprice  he  would  replace  it  by  swad- 
dling his  short  neck  in  a  black  cravat  of  many 
folds,  the  knot  of  which  invariably  slipped  around 
and  under  his  ear,  giving  him  a  losel  and  dissi- 
pated air. 

His  benevolent  disposition  had  made  him 
popular  with  the  people  of  Belton,  and  many  a 
poor  body  had  reason  to  thank  the  good  physician 
not  only  for  gratuitous  attendance,  but  for  the 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  5$ 

wherewithal  to  bny  indispensable  remedies  and 
comforts.  We  say  had  reason  to  thank  him,  for 
they  seldom  ventured  to  do  so,  certainly  not  a 
second  time,  for  the  doctor  was  exceedingly  im- 
patient of  any  manifestations  of  gratitude,  and 
generally  received  them  with  a  cynical  or  tart 
comment. 

One  weakness  the  doctor  had  in  common  with 
many  of  his  countrymen— devotion  to  the  social 
glass  and  flowing  bowl,  and  when  he  had  in- 
dulged over  freely  he  was  a  changed  man.  Then 
his  ordinary  blandness  forsook  him,  and  he  be- 
came pompous  and  choleric.  He  buttoned  his 
coat  tightly  over  his  chest,  carried  his  cane  under 
his  arm,  and  gave  a  defiant  cock  to  his  hat.  Be- 
ware then  how  you  contradicted  him ;  beware  how 
you  defended  that  absurd  heresy,  homoeopathy ; 
and  above  all,  beware  how  you  disparaged,  even 
in  the  remotest  degree,  her  Majesty  of  England, 
God  bless  her!  as  he  would  add,  reverently  lift- 
ing his  hat.  His  loyalty  and  pomposity  increased 
in  proportion  to  the  depths  of  his  potations,  but, 
whether  in  rigid  obedience  to  a  self-imposed  law, 
or  owing  to  the  resistant  power  of  his  brain,  he 
never  appeared  to  exceed  a  certain  well-defined 


54  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

limit ;  and  no  one  had  ever  seen  the  doctor  over- 
come, or  known  him  to  be  in  a  worse  state  than 
that  peculiar  one  indicated  by  a  highly  bur- 
nished nose,  tetchy  dignity,  and  exaggerated  self- 
importance.  The  doctor  was  generally  in  this 
condition  three  evenings  in  the  week,  beginning  at 
about  four  o'clock  post-meridian,  and  so  far  from 
its  being  considered  prejudicial  to  the  exercise  of 
his  professional  duties  by  his  patients,  many  of 
them  religiously  believed  that  his  sagacity  was 
keener  and  skill  greater  at  those  times  than  at 
others. 

The  doctor  was  an  enigma  to  the  Belton  folk. 
While  they  all  respected  him  for  his  good  quali- 
ties, many  were  offended  at  his  sarcasm,  puzzled 
by  his  paradoxes,  or  displeased  at  his  oracular 
utterances.  A  few  even  pronounced  him  an  "in- 
fidel" and  an  "atheist."  Opinionated  George 
Gildersleeve  objected  to  the  doctor's  opinionat- 
iveness,  and  rated  him  a  "  pig-headed  John  Bull." 
As  to  the  charge  of  atheism,  who  could  have  be- 
lieved it  that  had  ever  seen  the  doctor  at  service, 
as  he  stood  reverentially  burying  his  red  face  in 
his  stiff  hat  on  Sundays  in  the  fifth  pew  from  the 
chancel,  in  the  middle  aisle  of  St.  Jude's  ? 


MARE   GILDEBSLEEVE.  55 

"Atheist,  bosh!"  said  the  doctor;  "the  old 
Latin  proverb,  Ubi  tres  medici  duo  athei,  is  sim- 
ply nonsensical.  Who  comes  so  closely  in  con- 
tact with  the  mysterious  ways  of  God,  and  realizes 
so  thoroughly  his  own  ignorance  and  impotence, 
as  the  physician  ?  No — no,  a  corner  of  the  veil 
has  been  uplifted  to  us,  and  we  stand  appalled 
and  humble." 

Mark  Gildersleeve  was  almost  an  adopted  son 
of  the  old  physician,  who  had  taken  the  youth  in 
affection  and  proved  an  invaluable  friend  to  him, 
chiefly  by  directing  a  course  of  reading  and  study. 
A  priceless  benefit  this  to  Mark,  whose  advanta- 
ges for  instruction  had  been  slight,  for  he  had  lost 
his  parents  at  an  early  age,  and  been  left  to  the 
care  of  his  half-brother  George,  or  rather  to  his 
half-brother's  wife.  It  would  have  been  difficult 
to  find  more  dissimilar  beings  than  these  two 
brothers.  George  was  the  true  son  of  Eben  Gil- 
dersleeve, the  tough  old  smith  who  could  forge 
the  best  horse-shoe  in  the  county;  while  Mark 
inherited  the  character  and  tastes  of  his  mother, 
Eben  Gildersleeve's  second  wife,  a  woman  of 
beauty  and  delicacy,  a  rustic  Venus  mated  to  a 
village  Vulcan.  George  was  boisterous,  given  to 


56  MAEK   GELDEKSLEEVE. 

bully  and  boast,  and  hid  his  purse-pride  in  an  af- 
fected contempt  for  the  world's  opinion.  Mark, 
on  the  contrary,  was  reserved,  and  rendered  mor- 
bidly sensitive  by  a  slight  lameness  resulting  from 
an  injury  received  in  childhood — a  mere  blemish, 
though,  in  an  otherwise  well-knit  and  graceful 
form.  For  all  his  reserve  the  lad  had  a  resolute 
and  ambitious  spirit.  Gifted  with  quick  percep- 
tion, and  a  natural  aptitude  for  mathematics,  he 
had  become,  although  almost  self-taught,  profi- 
cient as  a  mechanical  engineer.  After  a  common- 
school  education,  his  brother,  in  accordance  with 
the  theory  that  the  only  road  to  success  was 
through  a  diligent  use  of  the  flexors  and  exten- 
sors, set  him  to  work  in  the  shops,  but  it  was  not 
long  before  he  was  found  to  be  more  useful  in 
the  draughting  room.  Young  as  he  was,  Mark 
had  introduced  some  valuable  improvements  in 
his  brother's  works,  although  that  independent 
fellow  was  not  over-ready  to  acknowledge  it.  On 
the  contrary,  he  rather  berated  the  young  man 
behind  his  back,  for  a  fop  who  cared  for  nothing 
but  dress,  or  a  fool  who  was  occupied  with  dreams 
•  and  poetry  instead  of  devoting  himself  to  his  busi- 
ness. Mark,  it  must  be  admitted,  sinned  a  little 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  57 

in  that  way,  although  not  to  an  extent  to  justify 
his  brother's  railings.  Full  of  enthusias'm  and 
high  aspirations,  he  scorned  mere  money-making, 
and  as  he  earned  enough  to  satisfy  his  wants  he 
bestowed  no  further  thought  in  that  direction. 
This  was  a  source  of  displeasure  to  George. 
"  Confound  the  fellow,"  he  would  exclaim  in  the 
barber-shop,  perhaps,  or  at  Bird's  livery  stable, 
"Confound  the  fellow!  he's  no  slouch,  but  as 
smart  as  they  make  'em,  and  if  he'd  only  stick  to 
his  work  he'd  be  a  rich  man  in  time.  I  never 
had  much  of  a  head  for  figures,  but  it  comes  nat- 
'ral  to  him.  If  he's  a  mind  to,  he  can  do  more 
work  than  any  other  two  men  you  can  scare  up, 
and  if  he  aint  a-mind,  you  can't  coax  or  drive  him. 
He'll  go  off  and  jingle  away  by  the  hour  on  a 
piano,  like  a  girl,  or  play  chess  or  read  novels 
half  the  night.  Why,  he's  even  got  a  banjo  up  in 
his  room  that  he  strums  away  on  like  a  nigger 
minstrel"  (alluding  to  a  Spanish  guitar  that 
Mark  had  bought,  probably  with  the  romantic  in- 
tention of  practising  seguidillas).  "  Look  at  me," 
George  would  add  as  a  clincher ;  "  the  only  music 
ever  I  made  was  with  a  riveting  hammer  on  a 

boiler,  or  a  sledge  on  an  anvil,  and  am  I  any  the 
3* 


58  MAKE   GELDERSLEEVE. 

worse  for  it  ?  Not  much,  I  think,  and  here  I  am, 
as  independent  as  a  hog  on  ice !  Don't  owe  a 
man  a  dollar  in  the  world,  and  though  I  don't 
roost  in  as  big  a  house  as  Rufe  Heath  or  Pop 
Mumbie  up  on  the  hill  yonder,  they'll  take  my 
note  at  the  bank  as  quick  as  either  of  theirs  if  I 
should  ask  it,  which  I  don't,  as  I  pays  as  I  goes ; 
and  what's  more,  I  can  dust  any  of  'em  on  the 
plank-road  any  day  of  the  week,  with  as  pretty  a 
pair  o'  flyers  as  there  is  in  the  State,  and  if  you 
don't  believe  it  here's  the  soap  to  back  it  for 
any  amount  from  fifty  to  five  thousand ! " 

And  he  would  conclude  customarily  by  draw- 
jng  out  a  well-stuffed  wallet,  and  slapping  it  ener- 
getically, with  a  defiant  look  at  the  by-standers. 
That  wallet  was  George's  ultimo  ratio,  and  when 
pushed  in  an  argument,  or  at  loss  for  a  reply,  he 
would  flourish  it  at  his  opponent,  with  an  offer 
to  wager  any  sum  on  the  moot-point ;  a  rebutter 
which,  if  it  did  not  carry  conviction,  enabled 
George  to  close  the  issue  in  a  triumphant  manner. 
There  was  a  story  current  to  the  effect  that  he 
had  once  startled  a  tableful  of  Methodist  clergy- 
men, assembled  to  take  tea  at  Mrs.  Gildersleeve's 
during  a  conference,  by  proffering  to  the  decorous 


HACK  GILDEESLEEVE.  59 

men  a  bet  on  the  correct  interpretation  of  a  dis- 
puted passage  in  St.  John ;  but  this  lacked  con- 
firmation, for  George,  if  he  had  but  little  respect 
for  any  one  else,  had  a  great  deal  for  his  wife,  and 
as  such  an  act  would  have  shocked  her  exceed- 
ingly, it  is  not  at  all  likely  that  it  took  place. 

The  sagacious  reader  has  doubtless  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  Gildersleeve  family  was  com- 
posed of  rather  incongruous  members,  and  yet,  for 
one  comprising  such  opposite  characters,  its  harmo- 
ny was  remarkable.  They  occupied  a  small  two- 
story  dwelling  with  a  flower-garden  attached,  in 
a  side  street,  not  far  from  the  Archimedes  Works. 
A  large,  bright  brass  door-plate  bore  in  very  loud 
letters  the  name :  GILDERSLEEVE— as  if  there 
were  none  other  of  that  name  in  the  universe,  or  as 
if  this  was  the  Gildersleeve  par  excellence  of  all 
who  were  fortunate  enough  to  bear  that  honest 
patronymic.  Aside  from  this,  the  residence  pre- 
sented a  very  quiet  and  modest  appearance.  The 
interior  was  plainly  furnished,  but  neat  as  wax. 
In  the  little  parlor  were  old-fashioned  mahogany 
chairs  and  sofas  dark  with  age,  but  polished,  and 
protected  with  snowy  tidies.  In  one  corner  was 
Mark's  piano,  and  on  either  side  of  the  chimney- 


60  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

breast  hung  portraits  in  oil  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve,  taken  when  they  were  first  married, 
and  looking  wooden  in  port  and  flat  as  to  per- 
spective, faced  on  the  opposite  side  by  photo- 
graphic likenesses  of  the  same  at  a  mature  age. 
Then  between  the  windows  was  a  colored  photo- 
graph of  Mr.  Gildersleeve  in  his  costume  of 
foreman  of  a  fire  company,  with  red  shirt,  leathern 
cap,  and  trumpet ;  and  still  another  representing 
him  in  his  regalia  as  a  Sir  Knight  of  the  Sancho 
Panza  Commandery  of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden 
Fleece.  George  had  a  passion  for  counterfeit 
presentments  of  himself,  and  in  the  album  on  the 
centre-table  might  have  been  found  a  number  of 
others,  taken  in  various  attitudes  and  in  various 
expressions  of  obstinacy,  by  that  distinguished 
artist,  Alonzo  Snopple,  Esq.,  who  kept  duplicates 
in  his  "  studio  "  and  never  failed  to  call  visitors' 
attention  to  them  as  remarkable  pictures  of  a 
remarkable  self-made  man.  "Fine  head,"  he 
would  say,  "  very  fine  head — rare  combination  of 
intellect  and  force — especially  force.  Strongly 
marked  lineaments,  well  adapted  for  Rembrandt 
effects.  Observe  the  lights  and  shadows,  that 
well-defined  nose,  etc.;"  and  George  seemingly 


MARK  GILDEESLEEVE.  61 

was  not  indisposed  to  allow  the  public  every 
opportunity  to  familiarize  itself  with  the  repre- 
sentation of  such  a  masterpiece  of  nature  in  the 
way  of  a  head.  Besides  his  love  of  portraiture, 
he  was  given  to  keeping  fast  trotters  and  game- 
cocks, and  in  the  stables  at  the  Works  were  stalls 
devoted  to  a  span  of  the  speediest  Morgans  for 
the  owner's  private  use,  and  in  the  stable  yard 
strutted  a  certain  breed  of  "  orange-piles,"  whose 
pugnacious  qualities  were  almost  as  well  known 
as  those  of  the  celebrated  fowls  of  the  Derby 
walk ;  the  dauntless  game-cocks,  that : 

"  symbolize  their  lord." 

These  animals  enabled  George  to  indulge  occa- 
sionally in  a  little  sportsmanlike  relaxation,  and 
spice  his  toil-earned  wealth  by  a  few  chance  dol- 
lars won  from  fickle  fortune. 

Mrs.  Gildersleeve  was  an  industrious  little 
housekeeper  with  an  equable  temper,  and  an 
unbounded  and  unquestioning  faith  in  her  hus- 
band ;  scarcely  less  so,  too,  in  her  brother-in-law 
Mark,  whom  she  had  brought  up  from  childhood 
and  looked  upon  as  a  son — an  affection  recipro- 
cated by  the  young  man,  who  loved  her  as  if  she 


62  MATETT  GILDEESLEEVE. 

were  his  mother,  and  with  reason,  for  she  could 
not  have  been  more  devoted  had  she  really  stood 
in  that  relation  to  him.  The  only  thing  that  ever 
cast  a  shadow  on  her  uniform  serenity  and  cheer- 
fulness, was  the  remissness  in  their  religious 
duties  of  the  two  beings  the  nearest  and  dearest 
to  her.  She  had  more  than  once  mentioned  this 
subject  to  the  Kev.  Samuel  Sniffen,  and  this 
good  man  had  striven  zealously  to  bring  these 
wayward  sheep  into  the  fold,  but  with  small 
effect ;  for  George  Gildersleeve  seemed  flint,  and 
his  brother  quicksilver.  Nevertheless,  Mrs.  Gil- 
dersleeve had  gained  ground  and  progressed  so 
far  in  her  endeavors  at  reclamation,  that  her  hus- 
band invariably  accompanied  her  to  meeting 
every  Sabbath  morning  and  afternoon,  while 
Mark  escorted  her  to  the  evening  service,  the 
mornings  and  afternoons  of  that  sacred  day  being 
devoted  by  the  erratic  youth  to  St.  Jude's.  It 
was  an  edifying  sight  to  behold  George  at  meet- 
ing. The  stolidity  with  which  he  received  the 
earnest  and  vivifying  sermons  of  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Sniffen — as  if  they  imparted  teachings  which  the 
rest  of  the  congregation  would  do  well  to  heed, 
but  which  did  not  concern  him  in  the  least — was 


MAKK  GILDEESLEEVE.  63 

the  despair  of  the  excellent  minister.  The 
hardened  sinner  had  even  shown,  on  frequent 
occasions,  a  tendency  to  nap  through  exhortations 
of  the  most  vehement  and  fervid  character. 
What  was  to  be  done  with  such  a  soul  1  The 
only  answer  he  would  vouchsafe  to  the  friendliest 
and  most  persuasive  counsel  was,  that  his  wife 
was  good  enough  for  both  of  them,  and  he  felt 
insured  as  to  the  future,  as  she  no  doubt  would 
have  influence  enough  to  "  pull  him  through  "  in 
any  event.  "  She'll  take  care  of  me,  you  bet," 
he  would  add ;  "  she's  good  enough  to  save  a  half 

* 

a  dozen;"  and  in  this  conviction  of  security  noth- 
ing could  shake  him.  Brother  Sniffen  then 
wisely  concluded  that  as  it  seemed  a  hopeless  task 
for  the  patient  to  obtain  sanctification  through 
faith,  he  would  induce  him  to  try  the  efficacy  of 
good  works,  and  in  this  laudable  endeavor  called 
upon  him  constantly  for  contributions  to  the  sup- 
port and  propagation  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
persuasion,  and  as  George  always  responded 
liberally  to  all  such  requests,  he  stood  well  with 
the  good  people  of  that  sect,  in  spite  of  his  stiff- 
neckedness. 
Mark  was  more  tractable.  He  was  willing  to 


64:  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

do  almost  anything  to  please  his  sister-in-law  ex- 
cept, perhaps,  giving  up  his  attendance  at  St. 
Jude's.  And  whence,  it  may  be  asked,  arose  this 
preference  in  the  young  man  for  that  particular 
temple  of  worship?  Did  he  hunger  after  the 
spiritual  truth  as  dispensed  by  the  rector,  the 
Rev.  Spencer  Abbott  ?  Alas !  we  fear  not.  Did 
he  deem  his  tenor  voice  an  indispensable  ad- 
junct to  the  church  choir?  Strict  truth  compels 
us  to  say  nay.  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  for  her  part, 
attributed  his  partiality  for  the  Episcopal  service 
to  Pr.  Wattletop's  influence;  but  the  worthy 
lady's  perspicuity  was  entirely  at  fault,  and  the 
motive  that  impelled  her  brother-in-law  to  such 
an  assiduous  attendance  at  St.  Jude's  was  not 
any  preference  for  a  liturgy,  or  leaning  for  the 
tenets  of  that  church ;  in  fact,  we  regret  to  say, 
it  was  not  any  religious  conviction  whatever,  but 
simply  and  solely — love !  Love  for  the  sweetest 
profile  ever  imagined ;  the  profile  that  he  was  con- 
tinually sketching  on  the  draughting  sheets  or 
tracing-paper ;  that  distracted  him  while  at  work ; 
that  drew  him  to  St.  Jude's,  but  drew  his  attention 
away  from  the  excellent  sermons  of  the  young 
and  worthy  rector.  And  the  possessor  of  that 


MAKE:  GILDEKSLEEVE.  65 

profile  was — Edna  Heath.  She,  of  course,  was 
attentive  to  the  sermon  as  good  girls  always  are, 
and  utterly  unconscious  of  the  glances  directed  at 
her  from  the  organ-loft,  where  Mark  poured 
forth  the  pantings  of  his  sighing  soul  in  song. 
Utterly  unconscious,  too,  of  the  influence  she  ex- 
erted over  that  youth's  ideas  and  aspirations ;  how 
she  had  inspired  him  with  vaulting  ambition,  and 
given  him  a  corresponding  distaste  for  his  calling ; 
how,  for  her  sake,  he  desired  to  become  famous, 
and,  of  all  things,  to  be  a  poet !  In  this  frame 
of  mind,  this  fervent  exaltation,  the  church 
seemed  a  haven  of  bliss  to  him,  and  his  worship- 
ping, we  grieve  to  say,  was  directed  chiefly  to  the 
idol  who  sat  in  the  double  pew  in  the  transept 
nearest  to  the  chancel.  All  his  longing  for  fame 
was  solely  to  lay  it  at  her  feet,  and  win  not  only 
her  favor,  but  her  admiration.  He  scarcely  de- 
sired the  one  without  the  other ;  for  once  she  had 
pitied  him,  and  that  pity  had  left  a  sting  which 
could  only  be  healed  by  the  salve  of  admiration. 
How  and  when  this  uneffaced  wound  was  re- 
ceived, we  shall  divulge  in  the  succeeding  chap- 
ter. 


66  MAKE  GILDEESLEEVE. 


IY. 

YEARS  before,  when  our  young  people  were 
children,  a  juvenile  party  was  given  one  evening 
at  Mr.  Heath's,  in  honor  of  his  son's  birthday. 
The  children's  schoolmates  were  invited,  and 
Mark  Gildersleeve  among  the  number.  Miss 
Edna,  in  white  with  a  big  blue  sash,  was  naturally 
enough  an  object  of  much  devotion  to  the  young 
gallants  in  roundabouts  and  pumps,  who  certainly 
evinced  good  taste,  as  the  little  belle  was  lovely 
as  delicate  bloom,  bright  eyes,  and  rich  curls 
could  male  her.  Poor  Mark  was  dismal  enough 
while  the  dancing  was  in  progress,  as  his  sensi- 
tiveness in  regard  to  his  lameness,  and  his  Meth- 
odist relative's  scruples  had  prevented  him  from 
learning  that  accomplishment;  hence,  he  would 
have  passed  but  a  dull  evening,  had  it  not  been 
for  Edna,  whose  kind  little  heart  prompted  her 
to  select  him  as  her  partner  in  "  Come,  Philan- 
ders," "  Oats,  peas,  beans,  and  barley,"  etc.,  when 
those  games  came  on  the  carpet.  This  partiality 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVR.  67 

on  the  part  of  Miss  Edna  naturally  engendered 
much  jealousy  in  the  breasts  of  her  numerous  ad- 
mirers ;  and  one,  a  malicious  urchin,  with  the  in- 
stincts of  an  lago,  plotted  to  make  Jack  Heath 
his  avenger.  Jack,  an  overgrown,  lubberly  boy, 
swelling  with  the  importance  of  his  position,  and 
the  possession  of  a  gold  watch  and  tail-coat,  was 
diverting  himself  by  teasing  the  girls  and  play- 
ing tricks  on  the  younger  lads.  Young  lago 
suggested  having  some  fun  with  Mark.  Said 
he, "  I  will  go  and  get  Willie  Hull  and  Mortimer, 
and  we'll  all  hustle  him,  eh,  Jack  ?  " 

"  All  right,"  said  Jack ;  "  he's  a  mean  sneak, 
anyway.  He  thinks  himself  so  smart.  He's  no 
business  here.  Edna  sent  him  an  invitation;  I 
wouldn't." 

The  boys  surrounded  Mark  and  jeered  him. 
"  Where  are  your  gloves  ?  "  inquired  lago,  Junior, 
pointing  to  Mark's  bare  hands.  The  poor  boy 
colored,  for  the  other  lads  wore  white  kids,  while 
he  had  none — an  omission  due,  most  likely,  to  his 
sister's  ignorance  of  the  requirements  of  fashion- 
able society. 

"  Oh,  what  a  pooty  cravat !  Look  here,  ain't 
that  a  pooty  one?  Don't  you  wish  you  had  one 


68  MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

like  it  ?  What  lots  of  money  it  must  have  cost, 
eh  ? "  cried  Jack,  in  affected  admiration,  as  he 
pulled  the  boy's  rather  gaudy  necktie. 

"  Let  me  alone,"  said  Mark,  indignantly. 

"  Suppose  I  won't,"  continued  Jack,  "  what  are 
you  going  to  do  about  it,  limpey  ? " 

Stung  by  this  cruel  taunt,  Mark's  eyes  flashed, 
and  on  the  instant  he  struck  his  insulter  full  in 
the  face.  Jack,  for  the  moment,  was  bewildered 
by  this  sudden  and  unexpected  attack,  but  soon 
recovering  himself,  rushed  at  Mark,  threw  him 
down,  and  fell  on  him.  Over  they  rolled  in  their 
struggles,  but  Jack,  being  older  and  heavier, 
soon  had  the  best  of  it,  and  kept  the  other  under. 
The  girls  screamed,  and  Professor  Banghoffen 
sprang  from  the  grand  piano  to  separate  the 
combatants.  This  was  no  easy  matter  for  a 
pursy  man,  and  a  kick  in  the  stomach  from  the 
writhing  legs  caused  him  to  recoil,  pant,  and 
consider.  The  colored  domestic,  however,  soon 
came  to  his  assistance,  and  between  them  they 
succeeded,  after  much  puffing  on  the  part  of  the 
professor  and  the  fracture  of  his  spectacles,  in 
stopping  the  fight.  The  contestants  were  not 
much  hurt,  but  stood  glaring  at  each  other  with 


MARK   GUDEBSLEEVE.  69 

rumpled  hair  and  flushed  countenances.  The 
children  nearly  all  blamed  Mark,  but  Edna, 
greatly  to  his  surprise,  took  his  part  with  much 
warmth.  She  had  overheard  the  provocation, 
and  now  stood  by  him  with  a  very  indignant  and 
determined  air. 

"  I've  a  good  mind  to  tell  father,  Jack,  how 
you  have  behaved;  I  think  it  is  real  shameful. 
Mark  is  your  guest,  and  it  is  very — very  mean 
indeed,  and  real  wicked  to  tease  him  as  you  did; 
and  you  ought  to  be  thankful  in  your  prayers 
that  you  are  not  lame  as  he  is,  and  ought  to  pity 
him,  and  be  kind  to  him,  instead  of  teasing  him 
so  unkindly." 

"  You  seem  very  fond  of  him  all  of  a  sudden," 
sneered  Jack ;  "  Guess  he  must  be  your  beau. 
Better  kiss  him,  hadn't  you  ?  " 

At  this  sally  the  boys  laughed,  and  Edna,  cov- 
ering her  blushing  face  with  her  hands,  burst 
into  tears  and  went  away  sobbing.  "You  ought 
(sob)  you  ought  (sob)  ought  to  be  ashamed.  I'll 
(sob)  I'll  go  (sob — sob — sob)  and  tell  father 
(sob,  etc.)." 

Mark  felt  as  if  he  could  have  pitched  into  Jack 
with  increased  vigor ;  but  he  refrained  from  any 


70  MA"RK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

demonstration,  and  as  this  last  incident  broke  up 
the  party,  went  home  with  a  spark  in  his  bosom 
that  was  destined  to  kindle  into  a  flame. 

Mark  arose  early  the  next  morning,  and  before 
going  to  school  stopped  to  see  Dr.  "Wattletop. 

The  doctor  was  still  abed,  for  he  had  been  up 
nearly  all  the  previous  night ;  nevertheless,  he 
rose  cheerfully  at  the  call,  broken  rest  having 
become  a  second  nature  to  him,  drew  on  a  dress- 
ing-gown, and  went  into  his  consulting-room, 
where  he  found  Mark  waiting. 

"  Well,  my  lad,  what  is  it  ? "  inquired  the  doc- 
tor, who  was  unacquainted  with  his  visitor. 

"  Doctor,  I  am  lame,  and  I  want  you  to  cure 
me,"  said  Mark. 

"  Lame,  eh  ?  How  long  have  you  been  so,  and 
what  caused  it  ? " 

"  Ever  since  I  was  a  child.  I  was  knocked 
down  by  a  runaway  horse  and  run  over  by  a 
wagon.  My  ankle  was  broken,  I  believe." 

"  Hum — um.  Take  off  your  shoe  and  stocking. 
Lie  down  on  that  sofa,  and  let  me  look  at  your 
ankle." 

Mark  did  as  he  was  bid,  and  the  doctor  drew 
up  a  chair  and  sat  down  by  him  to  examine  the 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  71 

defective  joint.  The  boy's  black  eyes  were  fixed 
with  a  searching  gaze  on  the  doctor's  face,  as  if 
to  read  his  thoughts,  but  there  was  nothing  to  be 
derived  from  the  grave,  sphinx-like  countenance. 
The  eager,  inquisitive  look  of  the  lad,  however, 
did  not  escape  the  physician's  notice. 

"  What  is  your  name,  my-  boy  ? "  inquired  the 
doctor. 

"  Mark  Gildersleeve,  sir." 

"  Ah,  you're  Mr.  Gildersleeve  the  iron-master's 
son,  are  you  ? " 

"  No,  sir,  his  brother." 

"His  brother,  eh!  Who  attended  you  when 
you  received  the  injury  ? " 

"  Dr.  Pokemore,  sir." 

"  Dr.  Pokemore,  eh  1  He  is  your  brother's 
family  physician,  is  he  not?  " 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Who  sent  you  to  me  ? " 

"  No  one,  sir.    I  came  myself." 

"  Why  did  you  not  go  to  Dr.  Pokemore  ? " 

"  Because  he  said  I  could  not  be  cured." 

The  doctor  after  some  reflection  gave  a  doubt- 
ful nod,  and  said,  "  If  anything  can  be  done  it 
will  only  be  after  a  painful  operation." 


72  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

"  I'll  stand  anything,  doctor,  if  you  will  only 
cure  me.  You  may  cut  me,  or  do  anything  you 
like,  only  make  me  walk  like  other  boys." 

The  doctor  took  from  a  case  of  surgical  instru- 
ments a  bright  bistoury,  which  he  caused  to  glitter 
before  the  boy's  eyes,  as  he  felt  its  edge. 

A  plucky  little  fellow,  thought  the  doctor, 
(struck  by  the  unflinching  look  of  determination 
in  the  boy's  countenance,)  and  seems  to  be  in  ear- 
nest. "  You  say  that  you  have  been  this  way  from 
infancy;  why  are  you  so  anxious  to  be  helped 
now  ? " 

"  Because — because — they  worry  me  about  it," 
replied  Mark. 

"  Worry  you — that's  very  unkind.  Come,  tell 
me  all  about  it.  I  suspect  there's  a  little  history 
behind  this,  and  you  must  make  me  your  con- 
fidant." 

Led  on  by  the  doctor's  kind  way,  Mark  exposed 
the  wound  his  pride  had  received;  related  the 
story  of  his  fight  with  Jack  Heath  (omitting, 
however,  any  mention  of  Edna's  interference), 
and  again  begged  the  doctor  to  remove  the  im- 
pediment in  his  walk,  asserting  his  willingness 
to  submit  to  any  operation,  however  painful,  that 


MAKE  GILDEKSLEEVE.  73 

might  be  deemed  necessary  to  effect  the  object. 
Pleased  with  the  boy's  frankness  and  resolution, 
and  desirous  to  help  him,  the  doctor  again  ex- 
amined the  maimed  ankle.  A  slow,  fixed  purs- 
ing of  his  lips  expressed  doubt,  and  the  boy's 
countenance  fell.  There  was  a  glimpse  of  hope, 
though,  in  the  doctor's  words,  who  told  Mark 
that  although  he  could  not  say  anything  encourag- 
ing now,  he  would  talk  the  matter  over  with  his 
(Mark's)  brother,  "And  if  he  is  willing,  I  will 
take  you  to  New  York  with  me,  where  we  can 
consult  the  best  skill,  and  if  there  be  a  probabil- 
ity of  helping  you,  it  shall  be  done." 

A  fine  head,  thought  the  doctor,  passing  his 
hand  over  Mark's  broad  forehead ;  there  should 
be  something  there.  "  Stop  a  bit,  Mark ;  what  do 
you  intend  to  be  when  you  grow  np,  my  boy  ? " 

"  I  don't  know,  sir." 

"  What  would  you  like  to  be,  then  ?" 

"  I'd  like,"  replied  Mark,  after  some  hesitation, 
"  I  think— I'd  like  to  be  a  hero." 

"  A  hero,  eh  !  Come,  that's  modest  and  laud- 
able. But  what  kind  of  a  hero,  pray  ? " 

"  Like — like  Jack  Sheppard." 

"  Jack  Sheppard,  umph !     Why  so  ? "  said  the 


74  MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

doctor,  rather    surprised  at  this    example   and 
selection. 

"  Oh  he  was  such  a  smart,  brave  fellow !     They- 
couldn't  keep  him  in  prison,"  replied  Mark,  wag- 
ging his. head  in  admiration. 

"  But  didn't  he  drive  his  poor  mother  crazy  by 
his  conduct,  or  something  of  that  sort  ?  "  inquired 
the  doctor.  "  That  wasn't  brave  or  smart,  I  take 
it,  but  rather  mean  and  contemptible  for  a  hero, 
wasn't  it  ? " 

"  Yes,  that  was  mean  and  bad,"  echoed  Mark, 
reflectively ;  "  I  think  I'd  rather  be  a  Crusader." 

"  Better,  much  better.  But  where  did  you 
hear  of  Jack  Sheppard  ? " 

"  Jerry  Cook  lent  me  the  book,  and  I  am  read- 
ing it." 

"  Fond  of  reading,  Mark  ?  " 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Well,  tell  me  what  you  have  read." 

"  I've  read  '  The  Three  Spaniards,'  and 
'Rinaldo  Rinaldini,'  'Illustrious  Highwaymen,' 
1  Three-fingered  Jack,'  and — " 

"  I  see — I  see.  Now,  my  boy,  as  you  are  fond 
of  reading,  I'll  lend  you  a  book  to  read  that's 
worth  all  the  books  that  were  ever  written,  ex- 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE.  75 

cept,  perhaps,  the  plays  of  Shakespeare.  It  is 
called  '  The  Adventures  of  the  Ingenious  Knight, 
Don  Quixote  of  La  Mancha.'  Now,  after  you 
have  read  it,  I'll  lend  you  the  plays  of  "William 
Shakespeare,  and  after  you  have  read  those,  you 
will  have  read  the  very  best  product  of  human 
intellect  in  the  way  of  fiction.  I  do  not  expect 
that  you  will  understand  those  books  fully ;  it 
may  take  you  all  your  life  to  do  that,  but  if  you 
can  get  but  an  idea  of  their  contents,  or  rather, 
acquire  but  a  taste  for  them,  it  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  present." 

Mark  thanked  the  doctor,  and  trudged  away, 
delighted,  with  the  Don  Quixote  under  his  arm. 
This  was  the  beginning  of  an  intimacy,  and  close 
friendship  between  the  two.  As  he  had  promised, 
Dr.  Wattletop  took  the  boy,  with  his  brother's 
consent,  to  New  York,  and  consulted  the  best 
chirurgical  authority  on  his  case ;  but,  as  the 
doctor  had  feared,  without  being  able  to  obtain 
any  encouragement  as  to  the  possibility  of  re- 
lieving him  from  the  imperfection  in  his  gait. 
Mark,  for  a  time,  was  greatly  disappointed  at 
this  result ;  but  finally  this  feeling  wore  away,  and 
grateful  for  all  the  kindness  shown  to  him  by  the 


76  MARK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

doctor,  became  attached  to  him,  and  was  never 
more  happy  than  when  able  to  reciprocate  with 
some  slight  service.  The  doctor's  slender  stock 
of  literature  was  soon  devoured  by  the  boy,  but 
as  the  books  were  choice,  they  bore  re-reading  and 
study.  They  consisted  chiefly  of  poetry  and  a 
few  standard  novels.  Histories  there  were  none, 
the  doctor  in  regard  to  these  being  of  "Walpole's 
opinion,  "Lies,  my  boy,  lies,  mere  records  of 
men's  prejudices  and  self-glorification.  Sound, 
wholesome  truth  is  found  in  a  good  poem  or 
noble  novel." 

Thus  did  Mark  imbibe  his  taste  for  the  ideal, 
and  thus  was  his  mental  growth  fashioned  by  the 
eccentric  physician.  His  moral  training,  too, 
was  not  overlooked  by  this  teacher,  but  the  code 
inculcated  was  a  simple  one,  and  merely  this : 
"Be  just.  There  is  but  one  virtue — justice,"  as- 
serted Dr.  "Wattletop  ;  "  men  resort  to  makeshifts, 
such  as  generosity,  or  charity,  but  they  are  but 
confessions  of  their  shortcomings  in  respect  to 
justice.  If  men  were  not  unjust,  there  would  be 
no  need  of  generosity,  or  charity,  and  forgiveness 
would  be  either  uncalled  for,  or  a  crime." 

There  was  doubtless  a  deal  of  the  stoic  in  these 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  77 

teachings,  but  it  was  on  such  philosophy  that 
Mark  was  nourished. 

As  for  his  boyish  passion  for  Edna  Heath,  that 
grew  apace,  but  accompanied  with  the  bitter  re- 
membrance that  the  sympathy  she  had  shown 
him  was  prompted  simply  by  commiseration.  He 
was  made  none  the  less  unhappy  also,  by  noticing 
that  since  the  eventful  party  Edna  was  not  as 
cordial  as  formerly,  but  inclined  to  be  distant ;  for 
the  little  beauty  thought,  perhaps,  that  she  had 
been  too  pointed  in  her  sympathy  and  desired, 
like  older  maidens,  to  set  matters  aright  by  an 
excess  of  reserve  in  the  future.  Very  soon  after 
this,  however,  she  was  sent  to  a  seminary  at  Bur- 
lington, and  during  an  interval  of  several  years 
made  but  short  and  infrequent  visits  home.  In 
this  way  the  intercourse  between  the  two  gradu- 
ally became  less  familiar,  until  now,  Edna  having 
attained  young  lady-hood,  it  was  formal,  and  re- 
stricted to  what  is  called  a  bowing  acquaintance. 
Mark  finally  imagined  he  detected  an  intention 
on  her  part  to  repel  him,  and  met  it  by  assuming 
an  attitude  of  corresponding  hauteur.  Still,  the 
secret  passion  burned  within  his  breast  with 


78  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. . 

steady  fervor.  It  was  his  greatest  joy  to  see  her, 
although  he  never  did  so  without  those  bitter 
words  recurring  to  him :  You  ought  to  l>e  thank- 
ful you  are  not  lame  as  he  is,  and  ought  to  pity 
him.  Each  word  a  thorn  pressed  to  the  quick ! 
Meaning  to  be  kind,  how  cruel  she  had  been ! 
How  much  sharper  those  words  had  stung  than 
the  mean  taunt  of  her  brother  !  that  he  could  for- 
give and  forget,  for  it  came  from  one  he  de- 
spised, but  could  he  ever  forgive  or  forget  the 
wound  inflicted  by  her  expressions  of  pity? 
Nothing  but  a  complete  and  voluntary  retraction 
on  her  part  could  compensate  for  that,  and  he 
resolved  to  toil  with  energy,  and  patience — to 
strain  nerve  and  brain — to  undergo,  and  brave 
everything  until  he  had  achieved  distinction 
enough  to  excite  her  admiration,  and  wonder 
that  she  could  ever  have  deemed  him  an  object 
of  compassion.  Ridiculous,  self-tormenting  res- 
olutions these  will  appear  to  common  sense  ;  yet 
were  they  but  the  natural  impulses  of  a  proud, 
sensitive,  and  we  may  add  rather  conceited  youth, 
full  of  the  illusions  of  life,  and  pushing  every 
sentiment  to  extremes. 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  79 


y. 


Now  that  the  intelligent  reader  is  better  ac- 
quainted with  our  hero's  history  and  aspirations, 
he  will  at  once  conceive  that  Mark  was  rather 
alarmed  for  more  reasons  than  one  at  the  possible 
consequences  of  his  second  altercation  with  John 
Peter  Heath,  as  related  in  a  previous  chapter. 

Dr.  Wattletop  had  relieved  his  fears  in  relation 
to  any  serious  injury's  resulting  to  the  brother; 
but,  reflected  Mark,  wha^  will  the  sister  think  of 
it,  and  how  has  the  affair  been  represented  to 
her  ?  Most  likely,  I  am  held  up  as  a  ruffian,  who 
brutally  and  causelessly  assailed  her  brother. 
Shall  I  submit,  and  let  the  future  explain,  or  had 
I  better  seek  an  interview,  and  set  myself  right? 
I  must  do  it,  and  I'll  do  it  at  once,  was  his  de- 
cision— a  decision  he  arrived  at  the  more  readily, 
as  it  afforded  him  an  excellent  pretext  to  see  and 
converse  with  the  object  of  his  secret  and  con- 
stant adoration.  But,  on  consideration,  fearing 
that  such  a  step  might  be  misinterpreted,  he 


80  MASK   GELDERSLEEVE.    „ 

concluded  reluctantly  to  address  himself  to  her 
father,  and  offer  a  frank  explanation  of  the  oc- 
currence. It  required  an  effort  to  come  to  this 
decision,  for  Mark  dreaded  Mr.  Heath's  patroniz- 
ing politeness,  and  invariably  avoided  meeting 
him.  But  he  conquered  his  repugnance  on  re- 
flecting that  that  gentleman  was  fortunate  enough 
to  be  Edna's  father,  and,  moreover,  that  there 
was  a  likelihood  of  meeting  and  conversing  with 
that  young  lady  in  compensation.  In  view  of  the 
latter  probability,  he  prepared  himself  by  making 
a  more  than  usual  neat  and  careful  toilet,  and  by 
the  time  he  was  ready  to  start,  his  thoughts  were 
far  more  occupied  witji  Miss  Edna's  eyes,  than 
with  her  brother's  broken  head.  Off  he  started 
for  the  "Cliff,"  but  soon  his  courage  failed  him, 
as  he  imagined  the  reception  he  was  likely  to 
meet  with.  Twice  or  thrice  he  stopped,  hesi- 
tated, and  only  continued  after  much  cogitation. 
Resolutely  he  walked  past  the  gate-lodge,  and  up 
the  avenue  that  led  to  the  house.  He  rang  the 
bell  with  a  thumping  heart.  It  was  the  first  time 
he  had  crossed  that  threshold  since  he  had  been 
•to  Jack  Heath's  birthday  party,  and  he  remem- 
bered the  colored  servant  who  now  ushered  him 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  81 

• 

into  a  reception  room,  as  the  same  one — with  a 
gray  poll  now,  however — who  had  assisted  the 
pianist  in  stopping  the  fight  on  that  memorable 
occasion.  Mark  sent  his  name  up  to  Mr.  Heath, 
with  the  wish  to  be  allowed  a  few  moments'  con- 
versation with  him.  That  gentleman,  evidently, 
was  in  no  haste  to  see  his  visitor,  for  he  kept  him 
waiting  a  long  time.  Meanwhile,  Mark  amused 
himself  by  staring  at  the  pictures  on  the  wall,  and 
looking  over  some  books  that  lay  on  the  pier- 
table,  when  he  heard  light  tripping  footsteps 
coming  towards  him,  and,  turning  suddenly, 
beheld  Edna  standing  in  the  doorway  in  a  startled 
attitude — a  charming  picture  of  a  surprised 
maiden,  lithe  figure  poised  forward,  with  slightly 
parted  lips,  and  fine,  large  eyes  opened  in  full 
wonder.  "Oh,  I  beg  pardon — excuse  me,  I 
thought  it  was  father ; "  and  advancing,  she  added 
in  a  frank,  pleasant  way,  "Why,  this  is  Mark 
Gildersleeve." 

All  the  blood  in  Mark's  body  rushed  to  his 
face  as  he  bowed  and  explained,  rather  awk- 
wardly, that  he  had  called  to  see  her  father. 

"  I'll  go  and  call  him,"  said  Edna ;  but  as  she 
was  about  leaving  the  room,  Mark  arrested  her 


82  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

with  an  eager  exclamation,  "  Stay,  Miss  Heath ; 
do  not  leave  yet,  I  beseech  you.  One  moment — 
I  beg  of  you — Pray  tell  me,  is  your  brother 
severely  hurt  ? " 

"  Not  seriously  so.  He  slept  quite  soundly 
last  night.  He  very  fortunately  escaped  any 
great  harm.  His  horse  ran  away  with  ham — 
upset  the  wagon  he  was  riding  in,  and  he  fell — " 

"  I  know  it  all,  Miss  Heath.     It  was  my  fault." 

"  Your  fault,"  repeated  Edna  with  surprise. 

"  My  fault,  I  regret  to  say.  But  please  forgive 
me.  I  came  to  explain  and  apologize.  Your 
brother  provoked  me,  and  I  was  carried  away  by 
anger.  Had  the  consequences  been  serious,  I 
should  never  have  forgiven  myself.  I  am  sorry 
— very  sorry,  Miss  Heath.  You  were  so  kind  as 
to  take  my  part  on  a  former  occasion,  when  we 
were  children.  I  have  never  forgotten  it.  (Edna 
colored  at  the  reminder.)  Please  do  so  again.  I 
know  you  are  too  just  and  too  kind  to  blame  me, 
if  you  knew  all  the  circumstances." 

Edna,  who  knew  nothing  of  Mark's  share  in 
the  misadventure,  was  much  mystified  by  his  ap- 
peal, and  rather  confused  by  his  demeanor ;  for 
emboldened  by  the  opportunity,  the  young  man 


GILDEESLEEVE.  83 


had  advanced  towards  her  in  a  supplicatory  atti- 
tude, while  his  gaze  expressed  far  more  of  admi- 
ration than  contrition.  She  stood  with  a  light 
blush  tinting  her  features,  not  knowing  how  to 
receive  so  demonstrative  an  address,  when,  fortu3* 
nately,  the  appearance  of  her  father  permitted 
her  to  withdraw,  and  caused  her  admirer  suddenly 
to  subdue  his  rather  dramatic  manner. 

"  This  is  —  Mr.  George  Gildersleeve's  brother, 
if  I  am  not  mistaken,"  quoth  Mr.  Heath  with 
easy  condescension,  and  extending  a  finger  to 
Mark. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  young  man.  "  I  came 
to  inquire  about  your  son,  feeling  it  my  duty  to 
do  so." 

"  Better  this  morning  —  much  better,  in  fact." 

"  So  I  was  glad  to  learn  from  Miss  Heath.  It 
is  but  proper  that  I  should  tell  you,  sir,  that  I  was 
unfortunately  the  cause  of  the  accident,"  said 
Mark. 

"  Indeed—  indeed,"  said  Mr.  Heath  loftily,  "  I 
wasn't  aware." 

This  was  a  fib,  for  he  knew  all  about  the  affair, 
and  that  his  son  had  been  the  aggressor. 

"  I  came,"  continued  Mark,  "  to  offer  any  ex- 


84:  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

planation  that  might  be  required,-  or  to  do  any- 
thing in  my  power  to — " 

"None  is  needed,  sir;  none  is  needed.  The 
matter  is  fortunately  of  no  consequence,"  inter- 
rupted Mr.  Heath,  who  was  not  desirous  of  discuss- 
ing the  unpleasant  event,  for  he  was  vexed  and 
somewhat  ashamed  at  this  fresh  exhibition  of  his 
son's  misconduct.  "  I  am  obliged  to  you  for  call- 
ing, and  can  safely  say,  that  my  son  has  no  grave 
injury  whatever — none  whatever." 

Mr.  Heath  had  not  asked  his  visitor  to  be 
seated,  and  as  he  paused  in  a  significant  way  after 
every  sentence  he  uttered,  Mark  took  the  hint  and 
his  departure. 

Seldom  had  Mark  been  so  happy  as  after  this 
visit.  The  effect  of  the  frigid,  almost  discourte- 
ous reception  given  him  by  the  father,  was  com- 
pletely effaced  by  his  short  but  delightful  inter- 
view with  the  daughter.  To  be  near  her,  and  to 
converse  with  her,  was  compensation  enough  for 
any  annoyance.  Moreover,  he  had  discovered  to 
his  joy,  that  while  he  had  fancied  himself  almost 
forgotten  and  un thought  of,  she  had  on  the  con- 
trary recognized  him  as  an  old  friend,  and  even 
remembered  the  occasion,  long  since  passed,  when 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  85 

she  had  assumed  with  childish  frankness  the  part 
of  his  ally  and  defender.  The  bitter  side  of  that 
incident  faded  away  for  the  moment,  and  his 
happiness  was  unalloyed.  He  cared  little  for  the 
opinion  of  father  or  brother.  Marriage  with 
Miss  Heath  had  not  yet  entered  the  scope  of  his 
aspirations.  His  aim  was  to  acquire  her  close 
friendship,  and  above  all  her  esteem  and  admira- 
tion. For  this  lie  resolved  to  live  and  strive.  A 
modest  ambition  truly,  but  might  not  friendship, 
esteem,  and  admiration  blossom  into  love  ?  And 
to  that  complexion  also,  were  not  Edna's  feelings, 
insensibly  perhaps,  tending  ?  For  it  was  not  from 
any  sense  of  displeasure  that  she  withdrew  so 
summarily  from  Mark's  presence ;  on  the  con- 
trary, she  carried  away  a  very  agreeable  impres- 
sion of  him ;  so  much  so,  that  his  pleading  face  in- 
voluntarily presented  itself  to  her  repeatedly  dur- 
ing the  day.  "  I  never  before  noticed,"  thought 
she,  "  how  much  better  looking  Mark  Gildersleeve 
has  gr6wn  to  be.  He  certainly  has  beautiful  eyes 
— so  very  expressive,  and  such  pleasing  manners, 
and  there  is  something  so  gentlemanly  and  refined 
about  him  too."  Evidently,  the  hoodwinked  ar- 
cher-boy had  sped  a  shaft  in  her  direction. 


86  MABK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

Mark,  certainly,  had  made  the  most  of  his  op- 
portunity. Casting  aside  all  his  usual  reserve, 
he  had  thrown  as  much  eloquence  and  magnetism 
as  he  could,  in  a  pair  of  black  eyes  that  proved 
to  be  not  ineffective.  At  least  the  ice  was  broken. 
But  after  the  first  moment  of  elation  had  passed, 
came  the  disturbing  idea  of  the  obstacles  he 
might  have  to  encounter  in  the  way  of  future  suc- 
cess. As  has  been  mentioned,  he  only  desired 
such  as  he  might  win  through  personal  distinction. 
Doubtless  there  was  a  large  share  of  vanity  in 
this  determination ;  but  vanity  was  the  weak  side 
of  the  Gildersleeves,  half-redeemed,  though,  in 
Mark,  as  it  never  manifested  itself  in  any  offen- 
sive way.  In  social  standing,  he  was  not  consid- 
ered the  equal  of  Miss  Ileath ;  for  in  our  republic, 
gradations  in  society  are  as  sharply  defined  as 
elsewhere,  with  the  difference  that  with  us  wealth 
more  frequently  draws  the  line.  Mark  under- 
stood this,  but  such  was  his  contempt  for  mere 
money-getting,  that  the  enthusiastic  youth,  would 
even  have  preferred  to  resign  any  attempt  to  gain 
Miss  Heath's  favor,  if  to  accomplish  it  the  acqui- 
sition of  wealth  were  necessary.  His  estimate  of 
the  young  lady's  character,  however,  was  too  high 


MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE.  87 

to  admit  for  a  moment  of  the  supposition  that  she 
could  in  any  way  be  influenced  by  mercenary 
motives.  No  money  could  buy  what  he  aspired  to 
possess — to  wit,  her  admiration.  Fame  alone 
could  win  that ;  and  were  this  the  age  of  chivalry, 
how  eagerly  would  he  don  casque,  mount  the 
barbed  steed,  and  tilt  his  way  to  death  or  distinc- 
tion !  But  in  this  prosaic  age  few  paths  are  open 
to  ambitious  youth.  He  was  a  draughtsman — 
an  engineer.  Howsoever  eminent  one  might  be- 
come in  that  profession,  it  still  remained  a  com- 
monplace one.  He  did  not  think  Edna  had  any 
especial  admiration  for  Brunei,  or  Stephenson,  or 
even  "Watt.  In  his  calling  genius  itself  could 
hardly  efface  the  stains  of  labor,  and  obtain  the 
consideration  accorded  to  mediocrity  in  the  gen- 
teel professions.  In  medicine,  or  law,  one  might 
with  far  more  facility  attain  celebrity ;  but  he  had 
no  taste  for  those  vocations.  He  had  dabbled 
with  paint,  and  executed  some  very  indifferent 
daubs,  until  in  disgust  he  had  thrown  away  the 
palette  and  brush.  Then  the  versatile  youth  had 
coquetted  with  Euterpe,  and  practised  on  every 
instrument,  from  the  harmonica  to  the  organ.  In 
vocal  music  he  was  more  successful ;  but  poesy, 


88  MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

the  art  of  all  arts,  was  the  one  he  longed  to  cul- 
tivate and  excel  in.  He  loved  the  poets,  and 
believed  himself  animated  with  a  spark  of  their 
celestial  fire.  If  genius  were  patience,  why 
might  one  not  become  by  constant  effort,  if  not 
a  Shakespeare,  say  a  Keats,  or  a  Tennyson? 
Phrenologists  taught  that  every  faculty  could 
be  modified,  and  its  power  increased  by  exercise. 
Knatchbull,  a  foreman  in  the  Works,  who  had 
been  a  Chartist  in  his  own  country,  and  pos- 
sessed a  remarkable  head,  told  him  that  he 
had  succeeded,  under  the  advice  of  a  phrenol- 
ogist, in  so  changing  his  character  that  plaster 
casts  of  his  cranium  taken  at  different  periods 
showed  corresponding  modifications  in  the  prom- 
inences. This  practical  example  of  what  per- 
sistence might  do  was  encouraging ;  and  so  Mark, 
stung  by  some  stray  bee  from  Mount  Hymettns, 
wrote  quires  of  plain  verses,  which  he  thought 
very  fine  and  destined  to  stir  the  world  of  letters, 
but  which  were  simply  transpositions  of  ideas  and 
similes  of  the  master  poets  with  which  his  mind 
was  saturated. 

Could  poets  have  been  made  other  than  by  the 
hand  of  Nature,  Jklark  would  certainly  have  be- 


MAKE:  GILDERSLEEVE.  89 

come  one,  for  he  strove  with  an  indefatigable 
ardor  that  nothing  could  dampen  to  succeed ;  but 
the  divine  afflatus  so  charily  bestowed  was  lack- 
iug,  and  he  thrummed  the  lyre  without  evoking 
strains  immortal.  What  phrenzy  and  foolscap 
were  wasted — what  moonlight  walks  indulged 
in,  and  sylvan  groves  haunted,  to  meditate  and 
seek  inspiration !  How  often  he  sauntered 
around  the  margin  of  the  Passaic,  watching  the 
leap  of  the  cataract  and  rise  of  its  snowy  mist, 
as  its  low  thunder  lulled  him  into  delicious  day 
dreams.  Far  into  the  night  would  he  linger  re- 
clining against  the  bole  of  some  tree,  gazing  with 
straining  eyes  towards  Mr.  Heath's  villa,  whose 
gray  walls  loomed  in  the  moonlight  like  a  feudal 
castle,  to  catch,  perhaps,  a  glimpse  of  a  shadow 
that  might  appear  occasionally  behind  the  cur- 
tains of  a  lighted  room  that  he  knew  to  be 
Edna's.  Often  had  the  faint  sound  of  music  or 
mirth,  that  reached  him  from  the  open  drawing- 
room  windows,  filled  him  with  envy  and  jealousy, 
as  he  thought  of  the  Rev.  Spencer  Abbott  and 
young  Mumbie,  who  were  constant  visitors  at  the 
villa.  Then,  dismally  homeward  would  he  wend 
his  way,  go  to  his  room,  and  spend  the  silent 


90  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

watches  of  the  night  racking  his  brains  to  com- 
mit his  thoughts  to  paper.  Quires,  nay  reams, 
were  covered  with  superfine  tropes  and  meta- 
phors, as  he  strove  to  coin  words  that  the  world 
would  not  willingly  let  die.  He  ventured  to 
show  his  lucubrations  to  Dr.  Wattletop,  but  the 
reception  they  met  with  was  neither  flattering  nor 
even  encouraging.  "  My  dear  boy,  drop  all  this," 
was  the  advice  given.  "  Not  only  are  you  wasting 
precious  time,  but  your  taste  and  mind  are  be- 
coming vitiated  by  the  namby-pamby  trash  of 
modern  rhymesters.  If  you  must  plagiarize,  do 
it  from  Fope,  or  Milton,  or  Gray.  Study  them, 
or  the  master  Shakespeare.  Remember,  as  Cole- 
ridge said,  poetry  must  be  either  music  or  sense, 
and  I  cannot  say  there  is  much  of  either  in  your 
verses.  Get  at  the  kernel.  But  after  all,  the 
study  for  a  poetically  inclined  youth  is  medicine, 
singular  as  that  may  seem  to  you.  If  the  desire 
be  to  awaken  sublime  ideas,  investigate  the  ab- 
struse problem  of  life.  Follow  the  noblest  call- 
ing, the  art  of  healing,  and  seek  to  penetrate  the 
arcana  of  Nature.  I  wish  I  could  induce  you  to 
become  one  of  us.  Our  profession  greatly  needs 
ardent  and  intelligent  recruits,  else  we  shall  be 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  91 

overrun  with  quacks  in  every  shape.  Look  at 
the  frightful  progress  of  that  modern  humbug, 
homo3Opathy.  There  is  no  error,  however  absurd, 
but  will  find  supporters  and  disciples,  and  no- 
where can  there  be  a  nobler  field  for  the  exercise 
of  the  highest  talent  than  in  combating  and 
routing  those  egregious  and  pernicious  pre- 
tenders to  science,  who,  with  the  absurd  brocard, 
that '  like  cures  like,'  impose  on  the  simple  and 
gullible.  Now  I  am  anything  but  illiberal — if 
anything,  I  err  on  the  opposite  side.  Whatever 
my  convictions  may  be,  I  am  willing  to  give  a 
patient  hearing  and  investigation  to  any  theory 
or  system  bearing  a  show  of  probability,  that  is 
advanced  in  a  truthful,  earnest,  and  humble 
spirit.  I  do  not  forge};  that  alchemy  was  the 
mother  of  chemistry,  and  astrology  of  astronomy ; 
that  Harvey  met  with  bigoted  opposition,  and  in 
short  that  it  becomes  the  seeker  to  be  humble ; 
but  when  I  see  a  fellow  like  this  Keene  here — 
this  hatchet-faced  Yankee  from  Connecticut,  who 
probably  a  year  ago  was  peddling  wooden  clocks, 
going  around  Belton  with  his  ridiculous , pellets, 
and  presuming  to  be  a  physician,  I  am  provoked 
beyond  endurance,  and  feel  sometimes  as  if  1 


92  MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

could  give  the  fellow  a  horse-whipping.  "Well, 
well,  the  fools  are  not  all  dead  yet." 

"  I  hope,  doctor,  you  don't  class  me  among 
them,"  said  crestfallen  Mark,  with  a  feeble 
smile. 

"No — no — my  dear  boy,"  replied  the  doctor, 
patting  his  protege  affectionately  on  the  shoulder. 
"  Not  by  any  means.  I  was  merely  alluding  to  the 
facility  with  which  the  generous  public  is  gulled. 
As  for  you,  Mark,  I  think  there  is  the  stuff  in 
you  for  something,  if  not  for  a  bard.  I  dislike 
to  see  you  aliasing  jack-o'-lanterns.  Think  of  it ; 
there  are  but  a  certain  quantity  of  poetic  ideas, 
and  they  have  all  been  thought  out  and  put  into 
English  words  long  ago.  Fresh  attempts  result 
only  in  tricking  them  out  in  fantastic  dresses, 
and  with  poor  effect.  Modern  critics  may  sneer 
at  the  old  favorites,  but  what  have  your  rhyme- 
sters of  to-day  produced  equal  to  the  '  Universal 
Prayer,'  'Gray's  Elegy,'  or  'The  Deserted  Vil- 
lage'? No,  no,  lad;  love  the  old  poets,  from 
Homer  down,  but  don't  attempt  to  soar  with 
them  to  the  empyrean.  Stay  with  us  on  terra 
firma ;  invent  a  new  cut-off,  or  condenser,  and 
let  anapest,  dactyl,  and  trochee  alone." 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  93 

This  advice  was  not  relished  by  Mark,  and 
'like  most  distasteful  advice,  was  not  followed; 
if  anything,  it  proved  a  spur  to  his  literary  exer- 
tions. Occasionally  his  effusions  found  their 
way  into  print,  and  shone  in  the  Literary  column 
of  the  Belton  Sentinel,  accompanied  by  a  notice 
from  the  editor,  who  alluded  to  the  talent  of  his 
young  fellow-townsman  in  terms  of  unmeasured 
praise.  Said  that  influential  sheet  on  the  appear- 
ance of  The  Broken  Abacus  : 

"In  spite  of  a  press  of  matter,  we  determined  to  make 
room,  in  our  issue  of  to-day,  for  another  poem  from  the  pen 
of  our  gifted  young  poet,  Mark  Gildersleeve,  which  will  be 
found  on  the  third  page.  The  favor  with  which  the 
'  Withered  Chaplet '  and  '  The  Spear  of  Ithuriel '  were 
received,  encourage  us  to  print  the  present  verses.  They 
are  hexameters,  and  remind  us  in  their  flowing  rhythm  of 
the  earlier  efforts  of  Longfellow,  while  in  gorgeousness  of 
imagery  and  luxuriance  of  diction,  they  equal  some  of  the 
finest  passages  in  Keats.  Altogether,  we  congratulate  Mr. 
Gildersleeve  on  this  exquisite  production,  whose  symmetry 
and  polished  beauty  can  only  be  fitly  compared  to  a  capital 
of  Pentelican  marble  from  the  chisel  of  Phidias." 

Dr.  "Wattletop,  though,  said  "  Bosh "  to  this, 
when  he  read  it,  and  it  could  not  be  denied 
that  he  was  a  competent  critic.  He,  also,  had 
trod  the  primrose  path  of  literature  in  leisure 
moments,  not  as  a  poet,  but  as  an  occasional  con- 


94:  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. ' 

tributor  of  essays  to  magazines  and  reviews. 
There  was  a  literary  club  in  Belton,  composed  of 
young  men  who  loved  to  indulge  in  debates  and 
other  intellectual  gymnastics.  Mark,  as  might  be 
supposed,  was  an  active  member,  and,  indeed,  at 
one  time  president  of  this  association.  Besides 
deciding  .the  momentous  topics  of  "Whether 
men  of  thought,  or  men  of  action,  have  done  the 
most  for  civilization,"  or  "Whether  the  execu- 
tion of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  was  justifiable  or 
not,"  and  other  questions  of  similar  perplexity, 
the  society  gave  lectures,  or  rather  lectures  were 
given,  to  quote  the  posters,  under  their  auspices, 
during  the  winter  months.  At  their  solicitation, 
Dr.  Wattletop  was  induced  to  prepare  and  de- 
liver a  lecture  on  "  Eccentricity,"  a  theme  which 
he  was  well  qualified,  at  least  from  experience, 
to  treat  of.  He  diversified  it  with  many  humor- 
ous anecdotes  of  Person  and  Abernethy,  and  it 
met  with  much  applause,  and  elicited  very  flat- 
tering encomiums  from  the  Belton  Sentinel.  So 
successful,  indeed,  was  it,  that  efforts  were  made 
to  have  the  doctor  repeat  it  in  neighboring 
towns,  but  he  excused  himself  on  the  plea  of 
want  of  time.  Then  proffers  of  money  were 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  95 

made  to  induce  him  to  comply ;  this  only  served 
to  incense  him,  and  an  indignant  refusal  was  the 
result.  He  was  inclined  to  blame  Mark  a  little 
in  his  displeasure. 

"  Mark,  you  rascal,  all  this  is  your  fault.  I 
never  would  have  given  that  confounded  lect- 
ure but  for  you.  It  ill  becomes  a  man  of  my 
years  and  profession  to  waste  the  time  he  owes  to 
his  patients,  in  relating  stale  jests  to  a  grinning 
audience.  I  don't  know  what  I  could  have  been 
thinking  of.  In  future,  spin  your  nonsense  as 
much  as  you  like,  my  boy,  but  don't  ask  me  to 
join  you — at  my  age,  too  !  My  remnant  of  life 
is  too  short,  and  time  has  become  too  precious  to 
me,  to  be  squandered  in  that  way." 

As  well  in  that  way,  and  better  than  in  an- 
other he  was  prone  to;  and  unfortunately,  he 
was  getting  rather  too  much  on  his  hands,  just 
then,  of  the  article  he  deemed  so  precious.  For 
Keene,  the  hatchet-faced  homoeopath,  had  relieved 
the  doctor  of  a  vast  deal  of  practice,  and  left  him 
with  overmuch  unemployed  time  on  his  hands. 
Dr.  "Wattletop  explained  the  increasing  popular- 
ity of  the  heterodox  practitioner  in  this  wise: 
"  The  infernal  quack  seduces  the  children  with 


96  MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE, 

his  sugar-plums,  and  the  mothers  are  silly  enough 
to  yield  to  their  preferences ;  once  introduced  in 
the  family,  of  course  it  is  pleasanter,  if  one  needs 
physic,  to  appease  the  conscience  with  a  make- 
believe  medicine  than  to  take  a  bitter  though 
wholesome  remedy.  How  are  you  to  meet  this 
folly  and  weakness  ?  Between  these  sugar-plums, 
and  water-drenching,  and  clairvoyant  cures,  the 
profession,  I  say,  is  going  to  the  devil — yes,  sir, 
going  to  the  devil !  Come,  Dagon,  let's  be  off,  old 
boy;"  and  with  his  dog  jogging  beside  him  he 
would  betake  himself  to  a  walk,  which,  after  a  cir- 
cuit of  a  mile  or  so,  invariably  terminated  not  to  the 
infernal  regions,  as  one  would  naturally  infer,  but 
to  what  the  Belton  "  Band  of  Hope  "  would  have 
.designated  as  half  way  to  it,  viz. :  "The  Shades." 
This  was  a  little  tavern  at  the  far  end  of  the 
town,  kept  by  an  Englishman,  and  frequented 
solely  by  "  old-country  "  people  (of  whom  there 
were  many  among  the  mill-hands),  who  resorted 
thither  to  indulge  in  Welsh  rarebits  and  old  ale. 
You  ascended  a  few  steps,  pushed  open  a  swing- 
door,  and  found  yourself  facing  a  little  bar 
attached  to  a  small  quiet  room  with  a  sanded 
floor.  There  were  wire  screens  in  the  windows 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  97 

on  the  street,  and  the  walls  were  ornamented 
with  fine  engravings  of  the  All  England  Eleven, 
the  Cambridgeshire  Hunt,  and  portraits  of  Nel- 
son, "Wellington,  and  Queen  Yictoria.  The  host 
was  a  "  Brummagem "  man,  suspected,  from  his 
blunted  nose,  of  having  been  a  pugilist,  but  as  he 
was  a  surly  man  of  uncommunicative  disposition, 
the  suspicion  had  never  been  verified.  There  were 
a  half-dozen  tables  in  the  room,  and  at  a  partic- 
ular one  in  a  corner  Dr.  Wattletop  took  his  place, 
and  Dagon  his  (beneath  the  table),  with  undeviat- 
ing  method,  about  three  days  in  the  week,  unless 
prevented. by  professional  duties.  Mutely,  then, 
the  blunt-nosed  man  brought  a  beaker  of  gin  and 
sugar,  and  the  Albion^  or  Illustrated  London 
News  to  the  doctor,  who  in  silence  consumed  the 
gin  and  perused  the  paper,  his  interest  in  the  lat- 
ter centring  in  the  "  Gazette,"  whose  announce- 
ment that  Major  Pipeclay  was  promoted  vice 
Colonel  Sabretasche  retired,  or  that  the th 

Foot  were  ordered  to  Bermuda,  or  that  some  old 

•» 

chum  had  gone  to  his  long  home,  recalled  recol- 
lections of  by-gone  days,  and  furnished  food  for 
reflection.  After  the  third  beaker  he  laid  aside 

the  paper,  and  was  now  become  intensely  grave 
5 


98  MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE. 

and  imposing,  sitting  bolt  upright  with  his  cane 
between  his  knees,  and  gazing  in  a  very  uncom- 
promising way  into  vacancy.  The  scot  settled 
without  exchanging  a  word,  the  doctor  buttoned 
his  coat  tightly,  grasped  his  cane  firmly,  and 
sternly  began  his  return  homeward.  His  way  led 
the  length  of  Main  Street,  and  seldom  was  any 
one  bold  enough  to  accost  him  then. 

Once,  at  such  a  time,  Mr.  Mumbie  crossed  his 
path  (it  was  shortly  after  the  delivery  of  the  doc- 
tor's lecture  on  Eccentricity),  and  ventured  to 
greet  him  with  a  smile  and  extended  hand : 
"  Good-day,  doctor." 

"  Sir  to  you,"  replied  the  doctor,  halting  in  a 
military  attitude. 

"  Fine  afternoon,  doctor." 

"  Yery  fine  indeed,  sir.     Ha  !   very  fine." 

"  Doctor,  you'd  hardly  believe  it,  but  to-day  is 
my  birthday,"  said  Mr.  Mumbie,  assuming  a  tri- 
umphant air  as  if  he  were  imparting  a  surprising 
piece  of  news. 

"  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  it,"  replied  the  doc- 
tor, curtly. 

"  Yes,  sir,  that  is  so,"  rejoined  Mr.  Mumbie 


MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE.  99» 

witli  decision  ;  "  I'm  a  much  older  man,  let  me  tell 
you,  than  you  take  me  for." 

Dr.  "Wattletop  looked  as  if  he  were  prepared 
to  take  Mr.  Mumbie  for  any  age  whatever,  for 
that  gentleman  presented  what  might  be  styled  an 
anachronistic  appearance.  He  was  a  large  man, 
offering  at  first  view  a  protuberant  expanse  of 
waistcoat,  supported  by  somewhat  unstable  legs. 
His  head  was  an  oblong  one,  covered  with  a  curly 
glossy  brown  wig,  that  contrasted  singularly  with 
thick  gray  eyebrows,  and  dyed  whiskers  on  flabby 
cheeks  flanked  by  two  large  ears. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  repeated  Mr.  Mumbie, "  I'm  a  much 
older  man  than  you  take  me  for.  You  know  Mrs. 
Mumbie  is  much  my  junior,  and  that  I  never 
made  up  my  mind  to  marry  until  late  in  life — 
that  accounts  for  it." 

"  Accounts  for  what  ?  "  inquired  the  doctor,  be- 
ginning to  be  bored. 

"  Accounts  for  the — the  discrepancy  I  spoke 
of.  Now,  here's  a  knife,"  and  Mr.  Mumbie 
drew  from  his  pocket  a  jack-knife,  the  bone- 
handle  of  which  was  yellow  with  age,  "here's 
a  knife  that  I  have  carried  about  with  me  since 
I  was  a  boy.  It  was  given  to  me  as  a  birth- 


100  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

day  present.  Just  notice  the  date  I  scratched 
on  the  handle — Nov.  16th,  1814.  Just  think  of 
that.  I've  carried  it  for  going  on  fifty  years — yes, 
sir,  fifty  years.  I  doubt  if  there's  many  men,  or  in 
fact  any  man,  can  say  as  much ;  and  what  changes 
have  taken  place  since  then !  But  I'm  a  man  of 
strong  local  attachments.  I  had  an  umbrella,  doc- 
tor, when  I  was  first  married  that  I  had  used 
steadily  for  twenty-six  years— think  of  that !  I 
suppose  I  would  have  had  it  yet,  but  Mrs.  Mumble, 
unfortunately,  was  prejudiced  against  that  um- 
brella, and  one  day  it  disappeared.  I  never  saw 
it  again."  This  was  said  solemnly,  and  Mr. 
Mumbie  looked  as  if  he  were  about  to  pay  the 
tribute  of  a  tear  to  the  manes  of  the  departed 
umbrella. 

The  doctor's  patience  becoming  weary,  he  was 
about  to  turn  on  his  heel  to  leave,  when  Mr. 
Mumbie  resumed : 

"  Doctor,  I  ought  to  thank  you  for  the  pleas- 
ure you  afforded  me  the  other  evening.  I  haven't 
had  such  a  treat  in,  a  long  time.  'Pears  to  me 
you  might  make  lots  o'  money  going  about  deliv- 
ering that  lecture.  It  was  capital.  You  did  get 
off  some  of  the  funniest  anecdotes  I  ever  heard, 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  101 

and  I  assure  you  I  was  really  very  much  enter 
tained  " 

"  Entertained,  sir !  Dammit,  sir,  do  you  take 
me  for  a  mountebank  ? "  exclaimed  the  doctor, 
swelling  with  rising  indignation. 

It  required  very  many  apologies  and  explana- 
tions on  Mr.  Mumbie's  part  to  allay  the  ire  of  the 
physician,  who  continued,  after  parting  with  his 
interlocutor,  to  mutter  to  himself  as  he  went 
along :  "  Entertained  him  !  Am  I,  Basil  "Wattle- 
top,  a  buffoon?  Does  he  attempt  to  patronize 
me  ?  The  insolence  of  these  Yankee  upstarts  is 
really  something  perfectly  amazing  !  It's  almost 
beyond  belief."  Unfortunately,  his  dignity  that 
day  was  destined  to  be  subjected  to  further  ruf- 
fling, for  as  he  neared  the  Archimedes  "Works  he 
caught  sight  of  the  proprietor  thereof,  who  was 
lounging  as  usual  on  the  door-step  of  his  "  office," 
with  his  hands  in  his  pockets.  No  man,  we  will 
venture  to  say,  that  kept  his  hands  as  often  pock- 
eted, ever  earned  so  much  money  as  G  eorge  Gil- 
dersleeve;  but  if  his  hands  were  idle,  his  eyes 
were  busy  and  everywhere.  A  more  vigilant 
pair  of  optics  never  lodged  in  a  human  head. 
"  Now,  that  fellow,"  soliloquized  the  doctor,  allud- 


102  MAKE   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

ing  to  George,  "  has  sense  enough  to  know  that 
he  springs  from  the  lees.  He  don't  attempt  to 
ape  his  betters  or  to  patronize  them,  and  his  rude- 
ness and  ignorance  are  far  less  offensive  than  the 
insufferable  pretensions  of  that  snob  Mumbie — 
um — um." 

"  Hold  up,  Major,"  broke  in  George,  hailing  the 
doctor  stentoriously.  "  Step  over  here  a  moment. 
Foreman  of  my  finishing-shop  split  his  thumb 
to-day  in  a  lathe,  and  I  want  you  •  to  look  at  it." 

The  doctor  was  in  doubts  whether  to  respond 
to  an  appeal  so  unceremoniously  conveyed.  He 
decided,  however,  after  a  short  debate  with  him- 
self, to  cross  over  to  the  counting-room  and  ex- 
amine the  injured  man.  The  hurt  being  dressed 
and  pronounced  but  a  slight  affair,  he  was  about 
to  leave  when  George  Gildersleeve  must  needs 
engage  him  in  a  discussion,  which  gradually 
drifted  into  the  delicate  subject  of  the  compara- 
tive merits  of  Englishmen  and  Americans.  At 
this  time  there  were  sputterings  in  Congress,  and 
in  the  newspapers,  in  regard  to  a  fresh  "  outrage  " 
perpetrated  by  the  navy  of  Great  Britain  on  our 
flag,  and  the  general  expression  was  that  we  were 
not  "  going  to  stand  it." 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  103 

George  for  his  part  certainly  was  not,  and  said 
so  plainly :  "  Look  here,  Major,  do  you  see  that  ? " 
(pointing  to  an  old  horse-shoe  nailed  over  the  fire- 
place.) "  Right  here  was  my  grandfather's  forge, 
and  right  about  here's  where  he  shod  Gineral 
"Washington's  horse  just  awhile  afore  he  fought 
the  great  battle  of  Trenton,  and  that's  one  of 
the  cast-off  shoes,  and  I  wouldn't  take  a  thousand 
dollars  for  it.  Well,  sir,  the  man  that  rode  that 
horse  that  my  grandfather  shod,  flaxed  you  Eng- 
lishmen out  of  your  boots;  and  I  tell  you  we've 
plenty  more  that  can  do  it  now,  and  they'll  do  it 
again,  if  you  Johnny  Bulls  don't  behave  your- 
selves ;  now  mind." 

Dr.  Wattletop,  being  in  that  condition  when 
he  was  excessively  patriotic,  prej  ndiced,  and  punc- 
tilious, was  so  utterly  dumbfoundered  by  this 
tirade,  that  for  a  moment  apoplexy  was  immi- 
nent. Luckily,  contempt  supervened,  and  with  a 
smile  of  scorn  and  withering  irony,  he  repeated, 
"  "Washington — Trenton — great  battle  of  Trenton, 
I  believe  you  said  ?  Do  you  seriously  call  that  a 
battle?  Why,  my  man,  do  you  know  what  a 
battle  is  ?  At  the  so-called  battle  of  Trenton  the 
total  loss,  according  to  your  historians,  and  their 


104  MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

statements  are  evidently  grossly  exaggerated — the 
total  loss  in  killed  on  both  sides  amounted  to  five- 
and-twenty,  including  a  drummer,  who  received  a 
black  eye  in  the  shindy ;  five-and-twenty  killed ! 
all  told— all  told!" 

George  Gildersleeve  shook  his  head  incredu- 
lously at  this  statement,  and  the  doctor  continued : 
"  Now,  if  you  will  take  the  trouble  to  instruct 
yourself  a  bit,  you  will  find  out  what  Englishmen 
can  do.  Head,  for  instance,  an  account  of  the  battle 
of  Waterloo.  Talk  of  Homeric  heroes  !  What's 
Achilles  and  the  well-greaved  Greeks  to  the  Iron 
Duke  and  the  Guards? — what's  Ajax  Telamon  to 
Shaw  the  Life-guardsman  ?  tell  me  that — tell  me 
that  2 "  Shaw  the  Life-guardsman  was  the  doc- 
tor's favorite  hero,  and  he  never  failed,  when  the 
occasion  offered,  to  bring  him  in  as  the  compeer 
of  all  the  paladins  of  old,  from  Hector  to  Roland. 

"Ah!  there  was  fighting  such  as  the  world 
ne'er  saw  before,"  continued  the  doctor,  kindling 
with  enthusiasm.  "  Not  the  famous  Macedonian 
phalanx  nor  the  Horn  an  legion  held  their  ground 
so  stoutly  as  the  squares  of  British  linesmen  when 
>the  steel-clad  squadrons  of  cuirassiers  broke 
against  them  in  vain." 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  105 

"  That  was  all  very  well  when  you  fought  them 
Frenchmen  and  Greeks.  But  when  you  tackled 
us,  you  found  a  different  sort  of  people  to  deal 
with,  I  reckon.  Old  Put,  and  Jackson,  and 
Gineral  Scott,  were  too  much  for  you,  old  man," 
returned  George,  with  a  shake  of  the  head  that 
ought  to  have  settled  matters. 

Dr.  Wattletop's  nose  glowed  with  a  fiercer  heat, 
and  if  looks  could  have  scorched  a  man,  Gilder- 
sleeve  would  have  shrivelled  on  the  spot ;  but  the 
chances  are  that  even  the  glances  of  that  pleasant 
dame  Medusa  would  have  fallen  harmless  on 
the  pachydermatous  master  of  the  Archimedes 
Works. 

"  Why,  confound  it,  man,  you  talk  like  an  ass. 
Should  her  Gracious  Majesty,  the  Queen  of  Eng- 
land, ever  deign  to  notice  the  vaporings  of  your 
politicians,  and  take  it  into  her  head  to  resent 
them,  she'd  send  the  Channel  fleet  over  here  and 
knock  your  blasted  country  into  flinders  in  no 
time,  and  dammit,  I  wish  she  would  !  "  and  with 
that  volley  the  doctor  turned  on  his  heel,  and  left 
abruptly,  to  work  off  his  choler  by  an  additional 

tramp  of  a  mile  or  two. 

5* 


106  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

"  How  are  you  to  convince  a  pig-headed,  obsti- 
nate man  like  that  ? "  said  George,  turning  to  his 
book-keeper.  "He's  so  prejudiced  that  he  won't 
listen  to  reason,  and  must  have  his  own  way." 


MARK   GELDKBSLEEVE.  107 


VI. 

WHILE  all  the  efforts  of  man,  long-repeated,  to 
change  the  baser  inetals  into  gold  have  proved  fu- 
tile, it  is  no  less  certain  that  gold,  in  revenge,  has 
been  successful  in  transmuting  man.  The  power 
of  its  moral  alchemy  is  seen  in  individuals  like 
Ruf  us  Heath.  Poor,  he  would  have  remained  a 
fawning  toady,  but  wealth  transformed  him  into  a 
haughty,  arrogant  aristocrat  at  heart.  No  Somer- 
set or  Rohan  was  ever  more  so.  Starting  in  life 
without  other  capital  than  a  moderate  education, 
tact,  and  industry,  his  first  aim  was  to  acquire 
wealth.  His  tastes  were  luxurious  and  refined, 
and  to  gratify  them  wealth  was  necessary.  So 
to  succeed  he  was  plastic  and  serviceable  to  his 
employers,  and  assiduous  in  courting  useful 
friends.  A  good  name  is  a  great  stepping- 
stone,  and  to  secure  this  he  was  correct  and  re- 
spectable in  his  conduct  and  demeanor.  "  Cor- 
rectness," in  fact,  was  his  religion  and  code  of 
morality.  Of  course,  right  and  wrong  were  rela- 
tive terms,  and  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that 


108  MAEK  QILDEESLEEVE. 

any  one    should  live  up  to  the  exact  letter  of 
the  law.     A  margin  was  allowable. 

Nevertheless,  decorum  and  all  outward  observ- 
ances were  due  to  society,  and  indispensable. 
Acting  on  this  principle,  there  was  no  more  popu- 
lar and  respected  young  man  at  twenty-one,  in 
Belton,  than  Rufus  Heath,  nor  one  with  brighter 
prospects.  Counsellor  Hull,  his  patron,  declared 
that  the  young  lawyer  promised  to  be  an  orna- 
ment to  the  profession  ;  and  when  the  Counsellor 
was  called  to  the  bench,  Rufus  Heath  succeeded 
to  his  practice.  Exempt  from  gross  vices,  and  gift- 
ed with  an  elastic  conscience,  the  thriving  lawyer 
BUccessf  ully  pursued  his  calling,  until  his  marriage 
with  Miss  Obershaw  crowned  his  pecuniary  pro- 
sperity. Now  the  influence  of  riches  made  itself 
manifest,  and  it  almost  seemed  as  if  the  precious 
metals  had  been  injected  into  his  veins.  He  stiff- 
ened, became  cold  and  imperturbable,  laid  aside 
his  urbanity,  and  his  ill-concealed  pride  and  con- 
tempt for  the  less  prosperous  betrayed  itself. 
And  now  that  he  had  tasted  all  the  joys  that 
affluence  can  give,  and  tasted  them  unto  satiety, 
he  craved  the  flattering  unction  of  distinction. 
Ambition  was  now  his  god.  He  was  a  politician, 


MAKE  GILDEESLEEVE.  109 

but  a  successful  one  only  so  far  as  he  had  been 
assisted  by  his  wealth  and  family  connections. 
He  owed  it  to  these  powerful  auxiliaries  that 
he  had  spent  a  term  in  Congress.  But  he  had 
gained  no  prominence  there.  He  lacked  ora- 
torical ability,  and  without  it,  it  is  scarcely 
possible  to  attain  eminence  in  a  republic.  His 
daintiness,  moreover,  caused  him  to  recoil  from 
contact  with  the  masses,  and  though  he  strove 
to  overcome  this  repugnance  when  the  occa- 
sion called  for  it,  he  had  never  entirely  succeed- 
ed. Perseverance,  intrigue,  and  a  lavish  expen- 
diture of  money,  were  the  means  he  relied  on 
to  ascend  the  first  steps  of  political  preferment. 
Once  fairly  launched  as  a  public  man,  he  doubted 
not  his  ability  to  make  his  way  and  mark  as  a 
statesman  or  a  diplomat:  To  become  Governor 
of  his  State  was  his  present  aim,  and  he  had  laid 
his  plans  to  secure  the  nomination  from  his  party 
as  a  candidate  at  the  next  election.  To  this  end 
a  host  of  emissaries,  with  money  at  command, 
were  at  work  throughout  the  State.  The  Belton 
Sentinel,  the  organ  in  the  county  of  Mr.  Heath's 
party,  advocated  his  interest  with  tremendous 
energy,  persistency,  and  abundance  of  adjectives. 


110  MAT?K   GILDERSLEEVE. 

Finnegass,  the  editor,  was  a  poor  printer,  whose 
shop,  presses,  types,  and  all  were  mortgaged  to 
Rufus  Heath.  This  well-known  fact  furnished 
an  unfailing  quantity  of  sarcasm  to  the  Passaic 
County  Argils,  the  opposition  sheet,  that  invari- 
ably alluded  to  Finnegass  as  the  "  minion "  or 
"serf,"  either  "  pampered  "  or  "  truckling,"  of  the 
"  aristocrat  on  the  cliff."  These  amenities  were 
treated  by  the  editor  of  the  Sentinel  with  com- 
plete indifference,  until  once  (stung  into  retorting 
by  some  particularly  sharp  gibe)  he  referred  to 
the  Argus  as  an  "  obscure  sheet  of  no  circulation, 
edited  by  a  low,  ignorant  felon."  Obscurity  and 
"  no  circulation  "  were  accusations  too  atrocious 
to  be  borne,  and  the  editor  of  the  Argus  flung 
them  back,  with  indignation,  in  the  teeth  of  his 
defamer.  This  brought  out  sworn  statements  of 
copies  issued  by  the  two  presses,  and  much  evi- 
dence on  both  sides  was  published ;  for  the  rival 
editors  were  ready  to  go  to  any  lengths  to  excul- 
pate their  respective  papers  from  so  heinous  a 
charge  as  obscurity  or  want  of  "  circulation." 
As  for  the  personalities,  they  were  treated  as  mild 
banter,  tending  to  enliven  the  canvass,  and  stimu- 
late partisans.  - 


MAEK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  Ill 

At  this  time,-to  quote  the  after-words  of  the 
Belton  Sentinel^  "  the  horizon  of  political  affairs 
was  darkening,  and  the  clouds  that  confined  the 
storm  destined  to  shake  the  fabric  of  our  Union 
to  its  foundation,  were  gathering  ominously." 
The  different  parties  were  in  a  ferment.  The 
"Whigs  no  longer  existed — they  had  given  way  to 
an  organization  originated  by  the  Free-Soilers, 
and  styling  themselves  Republicans.  There  were, 
however,  a  large  number  of  old  Whigs  wedded 
to  their  prejudices,  with  a  distaste  for  affiliation 
with  the  Democrats  and  a  greater  repugnance  to 
a  party  tainted  in  any  degree  with  Abolitionism, 
who  looked  upon  the  new  movement  as  an  ephem- 
eral ebullition.  These  individuals,  calling  them- 
selves "Conservatives,"  imagined  that  it  required 
but  an  effort  on  their  part  to  still  the  waters  of 
political  strife,  and  decided  to  constitute  them- 
selves "  bulwarks,"  and  "  arks  of  safety."  Among 
these  was  the  Hon.  Ruf  us  Heath.  Like  all  men 
of  his  stamp,  he  was  utterly  opposed  to  any  dis- 
turbance of  the  established  order  of  things.  He 
was  perfectly  well  satisfied  with  them  as  they 
were.  As  for  radicals  or  reformers,  he  hated 
their  very  name.  Such  people  sprang  from  the 


112  MAKE   GILDERSLEEVE. 

vulgar  herd,  and  were  only  bent  on  mischief. 
His  ideal  of  a  proper  government  was  a  constitu- 
tional monarchy  supported  by  an  oligarchy  of 
wealth,  and  to  this  form  he  believed  the  republic 
was  gradually  tending.  He  was  not  unobservant 
of  the  increasing  "prestige  of  birth.  Position  in 
the  army,  navy,  or  state  was  gradually  tending  to 
perpetuate  itself  in  certain  families.  The  bearers 
of  historic  names  wielded  a  certain  influence, 
which  increased  with  time,  and  would  eventually 
and  under  certain  circumstances  crystallize  into 
decided  power.  Here  were  the  germs  of  an 
oligarchy,  which  needed  but  a  law  of  entail  to 
perfect  itself  and  institute  a  class  of  hereditary 
legislators,  or  house  of  peers — the  bulwark  in- 
dispensable against  the  agrarianism  inherent  in  a 
democratic  form  of  government. 

In  order  to  exchange  views  on  the  condition  of 
the  body-politic,  and  devise  means  to  combat  the 
evil  influences  then  prevailing  (to  say  nothing  of 
advancing  his  own  personal  plans),  Mr.  Heath 
took  advantage  of  the  presence  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
statesman  who  had  occupied  a  very  exalted  po- 
sition in  the  commonwealth,  to  ask  him  to  meet 
•  ' 


MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  113 

at  dinner  sundry  other  influential  and  distin- 
guished citizens,  and  confer  on  the  important 
subjects  in  question. 

The  preliminary  step  was  to  send  for  Mr. 
Mumbie.  Mr.  Heath  had  an  imperial  way  of 
summoning  people  to  him,  and  his  mandates 
were  generally  obeyed  with  alacrity — always  so 
when  addressed  to  his  good  old  neighbor  and 
toady,  Mumbie  ;  who,  although  suffering  from  an 
attack  of  rheumatic  gout,  hobbled  as  quickly  as 
his  swollen  feet  would  permit  him,  in  prompt  re- 
sponse to  the  call. 

"Mumbie,"  said  Mr.  Heath,  "I  suppose  you 
have  heard  that  there  is  a  great  deal  of  talk 
about  my  running  for  Governor  at  the  next 
election  ? " 

Mr.  Mumbie  had  not  heard  of  it,  nor  had  any 
one  else  ;  but  he  looked  and  nodded  as  if  it  were 
a  familiar  and  constant  topic  of  conversation  with 
everybody. 

""Well,  I  have  not  yet  made  up  my  mind 
whether  I  will  consent  to  run  or  not.  However, 
that  is  neither  here  nor  there  at  present,  nor  what 
I  wanted  to  see  and  talk  with  you  about.  Sena- 
tor Rangle  is  your  brother's  wife's  cousin,  I  be- 


MARK    GILDEE8LEEVE. 

lieve,  and  you  are  on  a  familiar  footing  with  him, 
are  you  not  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mumbie,  listening  attentively. 

"  So  I  thought.  Now  Rangle  and  I  are  not  on 
the  very  best  of  terms.  He  accuses  me,  I  be- 
lieve, of  having  used  my  influence  against  him 
in  the  Legislature,  when  he  sought  a  renomination 
— said  I  wanted  the  place  myself,  and  so  forth. 
He  is  mistaken  in  that.  However,  I  am  willing 
to  pass  it  over,  as  this  is  a  time  when  personal 
feeling  should  not  interfere  to  prevent  men  from 
acting  in  accord  on  vital  questions  of  state. 
Here  is  the  point.  I  have  asked  ex-President 

to  meet  Judge  Hull  at  dinner  Thursday 

week.  Several  other  prominent  gentlemen  will 
be  present,  and  matters  of  importance  may  be 
discussed.  Now,  Mumbie,  you  can  assist  me  in 
this  way :  call  on  Rangle,  state  to  him  that  as  my 
friend  you  regret  that  there  should  be  any  diver- 
gence of  opinion  between  us;  that  from  your 
personal  knowledge  I  have  never  held  any  but 
the  highest  opinion  of  him;  and  so  on.  You 
might  then  introduce  the  subject  of  the  proposed 
dinner,  and  state  that  you  know  that  I  would  be 
pleased  to  have  him  make  one  of  the  company. 


MAKE   GHDEESLEEVE.  115 

On  your  report,  if  everything  is  satisfactory,  1 
can  forward  him  a  formal  invitation.  Now,  my 
dear  Mumbie,  you  will  help  me  in  this  little 
matter,  and  I  can  rely  on  your  discretion,  I 
know." 

"  Certainly,  Mr.  Heath,  certainly.  I  shall  be 
delighted  to  undertake  the  job;  "  and  Mr.  Mum- 
bie hastened  off,  big  with  the  importance  of  his 
mission,  and  happy  as  if  he  had  received  an  or- 
der for  ten  thousand  reams  of  foolscap,  paid  for 
in  advance.  His  task  was  an  easy  one.  The 
senator  was  flattered  by  Mr.  Heath's  advances, 
and  in  no  way  averse  to  partake  of  his  dinners, 
whose  celebrity  had  reached  him ;  moreover,  in 
no  way  disinclined  to  forego  the  opportunity  of 

meeting  ex-President  ,  whose  political  star 

seemed  to  glimmer  forth  again  in  the  ascendant. 

It  is  almost  superfluous  to  mention,  that  the 
dinner  was  all  that  could  be  expected,  for  what- 
ever Mr.  Heath's  other  qualities  may  have  been, 
good  taste  he  unquestionably  possessed,  and  in 
the  important  matter  of  dinner-giving  he  was 
behind  no  one.  And  when  it  is  considered  how 
important  a  part  that  art  has  displayed  in  di- 
plomacy, it  could  not  be  denied  that  his  aspira- 


116  MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

tions  to  shine  in  that  career  were  not  by  any 
means  presumptuous.  An  opinion,  it  is  safe  to 
say,  that  would  have  been  heartily  indorsed  by 
all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  partake  of  the 
memorable  repast.  Perhaps  a  little  less  starched 
ceremony  on  the  part  of  the  host  would  not  have 
been  amiss ;  still,  that  was  more  than  compensated 
by  the  quality  of  the  menu.  As  usual  on  such 
extraordinary  occasions,  an  eminent  chef  from  the 
metropolis  directed  the  culinary  operations,  and 
many  bottles  of  old  South  Side  Madeira  and 
choice  Hermitage,  that  had  lain  for  years  in  dusty 
racks,  were  brought  to  light,  and  decanted  for 
the  delectation  of  appreciative  palates ;  such  a  pal- 
ate, for  instance,  as  a  Chief  Justice  of  great  legal 
acumen  and  good  digestion,  or  a  portly  ex-Fed- 
eral dignitary  possesses,  or  even  that  of  a  dainty 
young  High-Church  ecclesiastic  full  of  zeal  and 
sentiment,  like  Spencer  Abbott.  What  a  fine 
dinner  it  was,  to  be  sure !  Rather  formal  and  cold, 
it  is  true,  in  the  drawing-rooms  as  the  host  was 
receiving  his  guests.  Mrs.  Applegate  was  flushed 
and  fidgety  amid  such  illustrious  visitors,  and  Mr. 
Mumbie  was  ill  at  ease  in  his  capacious  white 
waistcoat,  tight  gloves,  and  freshly  dyed  whiskers. 


MASK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  117 

Such  grand  company  impressed  him  immensely, 
and  for  fear  of  lapsus  linguae,  he  restricted  him- 
self to  monosyllabic  replies.  The  Chief  Justice, 
being  hungry,  was  somewhat  surly  until  dinner 
was  announced,  when  he  ponderously  and  feebly 
toddled  into  the  dining-room  in  advance  of  the 
other  guests,  and  regardless  of  Mr.  Heath's  inten- 
tion to  have  him  lead  Mrs.  Applegate  in.  This 
duty  therefore  devolved  on  the  ex-Federal  digni- 
tary, who  did  it  with  much  courtly  grace.  How 
well  the  host  presided,  and  how  elegant  he  ap- 
peared !  His  stately  white  neck-tie  and  glossy 
gray  locks  were  arranged  with  a  precision  that  was 
mathematical,  and  with  his  small  elegant  white 
hands  he  looked  as  if  he  were  descended  from  a 
long  line  of  partridge-fed  ancestors.  A  worthy 
pendant,  indeed,  to  the  ex-Federal  dignitary, 
whose  proudest  boast  was  that  he  had  been  com- 
plimented by  a  queen  as  the  most  elegant  Amer- 
ican gentleman  she  had  ever  seen.  What  a  con- 
trast the  two  presented  to  Judge  Hull,  with  his 
fell  of  white  hair  streaming  over  his  massive 
head  and  bent  shoulders,  his  beetling  sable 
brows  shading  a  pair  of  cavernous  eyes,  and 
who  always  looked  as  if  he  were  on  the  bench 


118  MAEK   GLLDERSLEEVE. 

administering  inexorable  justice.  He  certai  iy 
did  to  the  dinner,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that 
he  could  be  drawn  out  by  the  host,  and  made 
to  enlighten  the  company  with  bits  of  prodigious 
wisdom.  Finnegass,  the  editor  of  the  Sentinel, 
who  occupied  a  seat  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
table,  and  expected  to  gather  material  for  a  bril- 
liant leader  from  the  table-talk  of  the  assembled 
sages,  was  greatly  disappointed  at  the  common- 
place style  of  the  conversation. 

"Heath,  this  soup's  not  so  bad,"  quoth  the 
Judge  during  a  short  breathing  spell;  "I'll 
take  another  plateful.  What  do  you  call  it? 
Potage  d  la  Heine.  Ha — queen-pottage,  eh? 
"Well-named,  verily.  A  man  might  well  sell  his 
birthright  for  a  mess  of  such,  and  not  be  a  fool 
either." 

"  Touching  the  late  proceedings  in  Congress, 
Judge,"  edged  in  Mr.  Heath,  "  you  cannot  have 
failed  to  notice  how  the  breach  is  gradually  wid- 
ening. There  seems  to  be  a  disposition  on  the 
part  of  certain  members  to  push  matters  to  ex- 
tremes, and  bring  about  a  rupture  at  any  cost. 
Don't  you  think,  that  an  expression  of  opinion — 
a  decided  expression  on  the  part  of  the  higher 


MAIiK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  119 

classes — the  respectable  and  influential  part  of  the 
community,  would  go  far  to — to — " 

"  This  can  be  arranged  and  must  be,"  replied 
the  Judge,  addressing  his  plate  dogmatically.  "  The 
hot-heads  of  both  parties  must  be  made  to  listen 
to  reason,  and  the  conservative  element  of  the 
country  should  at  once  take  the  reins.  By  the  bye, 
this  white  Burgundy  is  the  same  I've  tasted  here  be- 
fore, is  it  not  ?  Yquem,  you  said  ?  A  good  wine — 
a  very  t^ood  wine.  The  field  has  been  left  entirely 
too  much  to  the  fanatics  of  the  East  and  the  fire- 
eaters  of  the  South,  and  to  stop  the  current  of  dem- 
agogism  which  threatens  to  overwhelm  us,  we  need 
the  best  efforts  of  sound  sagacious  statesmen  like 
our  friend  here." 

The  friend  referred  to  by  the  Judge's  fork  was 
the  ex-Federal  dignitary,  who  bowed  an  acknowl- 
edgment of  the  flattering  allusion,  and  with  a 
little  deprecatory  wave  of  the  hand  replied,  "  No 
doubt — no  doubt,  Judge,  you  are  quite  right.  All 
that  is  necessary  is  to  bring  the  best  men  of  the 
country  together  to  concerted  action,  and  the  mat- 
ter can  be  settled  without  any  difficulty.  But 
if  we  hold  aloof — if  the  great  legal  lights,  such 
gentlemen  as  yourself  or  our  friend  Mr.  Heath  ; 


120  MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

or  the  heads  of  finance,  as  represented  by  our 
friend  on  my  left,  Mr.  Bawbee ;  or  the  master- 
minds of  the  manufacturing  and  industrial  inter- 
ests, such  as  our  friend  Mr.  Mumbie  ;  in  short,  if 
the  intellect  and  wealth  and  respectability  of  the 
nation  do  not  interfere,  and  continue  to  permit 
men  like  Sumner  and  Seward  to  persist  in  their 
incendiary  leadership,  we  may — I  say  it  without 
hesitation  and  with  great  regret — we  may  expect 
any  catastrophe." 

Mr.  Mumbie,  who  had  been  listening  with  awe 
and  attention  to  the  words  of  the  great  men  in 
whose  presence  he  was,  reddened  with  modest 
confusion  on  being  designated  as  a  master-mind. 
He  had  never  taken  exactly  that  view  of  himself, 
but  on  reflection,  concluded  it  to  be  an  eminently 
fit  and  proper  one,  and  felt  that  the  world  had 
much  to  answer  for  in  having  so  greatly  under- 
rated him  hitherto.  "  I  quite  agree  with  you.  I 
do  indeed,  sir.  Your  remarks  are  very  correct,  sir; 
very  correct  indeed,  I  assure  you,  sir,"  spoke  he, 
feeling  that  he  ought  to  say  something  to  keep  up 
his  reputation  of  a  master-mind. 

Finnegass,  the  editor,  emboldened  by  generous 
wine,  ventured  to  remark  :  "  In  my  article  in  last 


MAEK  GILDEKSLEEVK.  121 

Monday's  Sentinel]  I  alluded  to  this  very  subject, 
and  put  it  in  rather  forcible  terms  to  the — " 
But  he  was  cut  short  by  the  Judge,  who,  being 
at  leisure  between  courses,  resumed  his  harangue: 
"  The  proper  way  to  settle  this  trouble  is  very  sim- 
ple. It  can  be  arranged  with  very  little  difficulty. 
I  am  quite  confident  of  that,  and  speak  advisedly. 
All  that  is  necessary  is  a  conference  of  the  patrio- 
tic intellects  from  all  sections  North  and  South, 
East  and  West,  to  restore  harmony  to  the  councils 
of  our  country.  Of  course,  forbearance  is  indis- 
pensable, and  a  spirit  of  conciliation  should  pre- 
side over  all  deliberations,  and — this  pate  has  the 
appearance  of  being  very  fine — very  fine.  I'll 
take  some  more  of  the  truffles." 

"  I  wrote  an  article  which  created — "  again 
attempted  Finnegass. 

"  Mr.  Bawbee,  a  glass  of  wine  with  you,  if  you 
please,"  said  the  host,  adroitly  checking  the  edi- 
tor, and  nodding  gracefully  to  the  financier. 
Mr.  Bawbee  was  a  Western  banker,  of  Scotch 
birth,  who  had  made  no  end  of  pelf  by  starting 
banks  and  issuing  paper  money.  He  took  the 
floor,  figuratively  speaking,  and  predicted  the 
dismemberment  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Bawbee  be- 


122  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

ing  a  shrewd,  hard-headed  Scot,  had  an  opinion 
of  his  own.  "  It'll  never  do  in  the  world,  Judge. 
The  matter  has  gone  too  far.  Mark  my  words, 
gentlemen,  you'll  see  the  States  divided  into  three 
confederacies,  and  that  within  two  years.  I  know 
the  sentiments  and  temper  of  the  Western  people^ 
and  if  the  South  secedes,  which  it  doubtless  will, 
the  West  will  sever  their  connection  with  the 
East.  In  my  section  they  deem  their  interests 
more  closely  identified  with  those  of  the  South, 
than  with  the  manufacturing  East,  and  will  never 
permit  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  their  great 
natural  highway,  to  pass  into  the  control  of  a 
foreign  people,  hence  it  is  not  improbable  that  in 
certain  eventualities  they  would  join  hands  with 
the  South ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  as  I 
mentioned  at  first,  that  the  upshot  will  be  a  di- 
vision into  three  confederations,  and  perhaps,  as 
the  Pacific  States  grow  in  importance,  into  four." 
"  Tut — tut,  Mr.  Bawbee,"  interrupted  Mr.  Justice 
Hull,  "  all  those  minor  differences  and  territorial 
jealousies  can  be  reconciled.  As  I  have  before 
stated,  a  well-selected  conference  could  settle  the 
vexed  question  in  a  short  time.  Get  the  right  men 
together,  and  I  have  no  doubt  as  to  the  result." 


MAR1T   GUDEBSLEEVE.  123 

The  Judge  was  inclined  to  be  impatient  of 
other  people's  opinions  when  they  clashed  with 
his  own,  and  was  always  the  Sir  Oracle  of  his 
circle. 

The  Rev.  Spencer  Abbott,  who  was  not  greatly 
interested  in  the  questions  of  state  discussed  by 
the  other  guests,  diverted  himself  in  dulcet 
small-talk  with  his  fair  neighbor,  the  daughter  of 
the  house.  In  spite  of  an  evident  desire  to 
please,  he  was  apparently  unsuccessful,  for  Miss 
Edna  showed  signs  of  weariness  by  an  occasional 
pouting  of  her  delicate  lips,  and  seemed  much 
relieved  when  the  cloth  being  drawn,  enabled  her 
and  her  aunt,  who  were  the  only  ladies  present, 
to  retire  to  the  drawing-room.  Poor  Abbott 
would  gladly  have  joined  them,  for  he  was 
dreadfully  bored  by  Finnegass,  who,  exalted  by 
wine  and  in  default  of  any  other  listener,  at- 
tached himself  to  the  clergyman,  and  treated 
him  to  choice  extracts  from  stirring  leaders, 
until  it  was  only  by  steady  sips  of  coffee  and  a 
supreme  effort  of  will,  that  Abbott  refrained 
from  lapsing  into  slumber. 

At  length  Kangle  came  to  the  rescue,  and  mer- 
riment prevailed  ;  for  that  eminent  senator,  ignor- 


124  MAKE  GILDEESLEEVE. 

ing  the  weighty  topics  under  discussion,  proved 
a  perfect  cornucopia  of  jokes  and  funny  anec- 
dotes, and  actually  drew  a  smile  from  the  grim 
old  Judge. 

By  this  time  Mr.  Mumbie  had  recovered  his 
self-possession,  and  grown  bold  and  garrulous. 
He  ventured  to  occupy  a  vacant  chair  next  to  the 
ex-President  (that  had  been  set  apart  for  John 
Heath  who  had  not  condescended  to  appear),  and 
informed  that  dignitary  that  he  (Mumbie)  was  a 
much  older  man  than  any  one  would  take  him 
for.  As  the  ex-President,  on  being  asked,  failed 
to  guess  Mr.  Mumbie's  age,  Mr.  Mumbie  imparted 
the  information,  triumphantly  adding  that  Mrs. 
Mumbie  was  very  much  his  junior,  as  he  had 
married  late  in  life.  "  Here's  a  knife,"  continued 
he,  drawing  forth  the  bone-handled  jack-knife, 
"that  I  have  carried  steadily,  sir,  steadily  for 
over  fifty  years.  Now  I  don't  think  there  are 
many  such  instances  on  record.  My  local  attach- 
ments are  very  strong.  It's  a  peculiarity  in  our 
family  which — " 

"  Between  ourselves,  and  what  is  said  here  will 
of  course  go  no  farther,"  said  Mr.  Heath,  with  a 
sharp  glance  at  Mr.  Mumbie,  "  had  we  not  better 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  125 

take  some  preliminary  steps  at  once,  in  regard  to 
the  matter  we  have  been  discussing?  I  think 
we  are  all  of  one  opinion  on  the  subject.  With 
your  permission,  Judge,  I  would  suggest  that  you 
and  Senator  Rangle  should  by  all  means  go .  as 

delegates  from  this  State.  Our  friend  Mr. 

ought  of  course  to  represent  New  York.  Then  I 
have  thought  that  perhaps  Crittenden  would  be 
of  all  men  the  most  proper  to  lead  the  delegation 
from  his  section.  In  fact,  I  have  already  written 
him  on  the  subject,  and  will  send  for  a  copy  of 
my  letter  and  read  it  to  you." 

"  Not  now,  Heath ;  111  listen  to  it  some  other 
time,"  said  Judge  IIulL 

"Very  well,  I  merely  wished  to  show  that  I 
have  approached  him  in  a  cautious  way,  and  in  a 
manner  that  I  do  not  doubt  will  meet  with  .your 
approval.  Now,  how  does  the  selection  of  dele- 
gates strike  you  ?  I  mean,  of  course,  as  far  as  I 
have  gone  ? " 

"Well — well.  I'll  think  of  it — what  liqueur 
is  that?" 

The  Judge  did  think  of  it,  and  the  conference 
was  held,  as  we  all  know.  The  Judge,  the  ex-Fed- 


126  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

eral  dignitary,  and  Senator  Rangle,  were  all  there, 
and  in  company  with  other  conservative  gentle- 
men tried  to  stop  the  Niagara  flood  of  progress 
with  bulrushes.  But  the  tide  that  was  destined 
to  sweep  away  the  last  relic  of  barbarism  in  our 
country,  was  rising  fast,  and  the  conservative 
brooms  that  were  striving  to  stem  it  were  flour- 
ished in  vain. 

Meanwhile  Judge  Hull  took  another  cliasse- 
cqfe  of  cognac,  to  fortify  himself  against  the 
night  air,  and  looking  at  his  watch,  directed  his 
carriage  to  be  called,  and  rather  unceremoniously 
departed.  The  Rev.  Spencer  Abbott  slipped 
away  to  join  the  ladies  in  the  drawing-room, 
while  the  other  guests  accompanied  the  host  to 
the  picture-gallery.  After  the  ex-Federal  digni- 
tary, Senator  Rangle,  and  Mr.  Bawbee  had  retired 
to  their  respective  bedchambers  for  the  night, 
Mr.  Heath  remained  closeted  with  Finnegass  in 
the  library,  while  the  former  concocted  an  article 
(the  editor  being  incapacitated  by  the  dinner  from 
any  intellectual  effort  for  the  time  being),  to  ap- 
pear in  the  next  issue  of  the  Belton  Sentinel^  and 
which  he  expected  would  create  a  marked  sen- 


MAKK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  127 

sation.  This  article,  a  lengthy  and  portentous 
leader,  was  prefaced  by  the  following  : 

' '  We  are  gratified  to  announce  that  a  movement  of  very 
great  and  general  importance  to  the  public,  in  relation  to 
the  present  crisis  of  political  affairs,  is  in  progress ;  the  par- 
ticulars of  which  having  been  communicated  to  us  in  con- 
fidence, we  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  impart." 

This  statement  having  stimulated  the  reader's 
curiosity  and  attention  to  a  proper  degree,  the 
writer,  after  a  few  paragraphs,  relented  from 
his  stoical  secrecy,  and  with  generous  confidence 
divulged  the  fact  that  he  had  been  invited  to 
be  present — 

"at  an  informal  meeting  of  distinguished  citizens,  among 
whom  were  ex-President  ,  Senator  Bangle,  Chief  Jus- 
tice Hull,  Andrew  Bawbee,  Esq.,  the  wealthy  and  influen- 
tial Western  banker,  M.  Mumbie,  Esq.,  and  several  other 
gentlemen  scarcely  less  eminent,  held  at  the  residence  of 
our  esteemed  fellow-townsman,  Hon.  Eufus  Heath,  to  delib- 
erate and  take  into  consideration  the  critical  situation  of  our 
country.  This  assemblage,  comprising,  as  it  did,  some  of  the 
greatest  minds  of  the  country,  and  men  conspicuous  for  their 
ability  in  all  the  higher  walks  of  life — the  bench,  the  bar, 
the  clergy,  statecraft,  finance,  and  the  manufacturing  inter- 
est being  all  represented — were  enabled  to  bring  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  topic  before  them  that  mature  reflection, 
and  careful,  dispassionate  deliberation,  which  are  the  fruite 
only  of  rare  sagacity  and  profound  wisdom.  Good  faith  for- 
bids us  to  say  more,  and  we  have  no  desire  to  be  premature, 
but  we  think  we  may  venture  to  add,  tliat  it  was  decided  to 


128  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

hold,  at  an  early  day,  a  grand  National  council,  to  sit  at  some 
central  point,  and  to  be  composed  of  delegates  from  every 
section  of  the  Union.  We  will  not  pursue  the  subject  fur- 
ther at  present,  but  we  cannot  refrain  from  observing  that, 
the  fact  that  these  gentlemen,  whose  names  are  synonyms  for 
all  that  is  great,  wise,  and  patriotic,  should  devote  their 
energies  to  devise  means  to  avert  the  storm  that  threatens 
the  safety  of  the  ship  of  state,  is  one  of  the  most  hopeful 
signs  that  an  era  of  concord  is  at  hand,  when  sectionalism, 
radicalism,  and  demagogism  in  every  shape  and  form,  will 
meet  a  merited  doom,  and  be  banished  forever  from  the  Leg- 
islative halls  of  a  free,  united,  and  prosperous  people. 

"  It  is  but  just  to  state  that  the  idea  and  inception  of  this 
proposed  National  conference,  which  will  doubtless  mark  an 
epoch  id  our  country's  history,  is  due  to  our  fellow-citizen, 
Hon.  Rufus  Heath,  whom  the  spontaneous  and  united  voice 
of  the  people  has  designated  as  the  next  occupant  of  the 
gubernatorial  chair  of  this  State.  When  we  see  such  evi- 
dences of  enlightened  patriotism,  such  an  unselfish  love  of 
country  on  the  part  of  a  gentleman  whose  wealth  and  posi- 
tion are  a  sufficient  guarantee  that  he  is  actuated  by  no 
desire  for  personal  aggrandisement  or  ambitious  motive,  we 
do  not  wonder  that  his  countrymen,  without  distinction  of 
party,  turn  instinctively  towards  him  as  the  proper  leader 
and  councillor  in  this  hour  of  trial,  when,  if  ever,  sound 
statesmanship  and  disinterested  devotion  to  the  welfare  of 
the  whole  country  are  needed.  And  while  we  know  that  it 
will  be  no  easy  matter  to  prevail  upon  Mr.  Heath  to  run  for 
the  office,  and  that  he  would,  with  extreme  reluctance,  give 
up  his  retirement  and  important  occupations,  and  could  only 
be  moved  by  a  strong  sense  of  duty  to  again  enter  the  arena 
of  public  life,  we  feel  that  the  people  have  the  right  to  ask 
him,  in  this  exigency,  to  so  far  sacrifice  his  personal  interests 
and  inclinations,  and  yield  to  then-  wishes,  by  accepting  a 
post  which  he,  of  all  others,  is  best  fitted,  to  fill — that  of 
GOVERNOR  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  JERSEY." 


MAEK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  129 

This  article  had  the  good  fortune  to  attract 
the  notice  of  the  metropolitan  sheets,  who  com- 
mented on  the  purposes  of  the  ex-Federal  digni- 
tary and  his  friends  in  various  terms.  The  radi- 
cal press  poked  facetiousness  at  the  venerable 
statesmen;  called  them  fossils;  and  compared 
them  to  the  famous  tailors  of  Tooley  Street ;  but 
whose  fault  was  it  that  the  great  Peace  Congress 
resulted  in  unsuccess,  and  that  the  well-meant 
efforts  of  its  members  were  fruitless?  Whose, 
but  that  of  those  perverse  spirits  who  would  not 
recognize  the  fact  that "  Canaan  was  cursed,"  and 
that  it  was  flying  in  the  face  of  Providence  and 
against  Holy  Writ,  to  meddle  with  his  cursed- 
ness  in  any  way  ? 
6* 


130  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 


VII. 

ME.  HEATH  was  very  well  satisfied  with  the 
result  of  his  dinner-party.  It  had  enabled  him 
to  appear  in  the  light  of  a  leading  and  promi- 
nent public  man.  He  could  in  the  future  refer  to 
the  views  he  had  propounded  on  that  occasion, 
as  the  origin  of  the  memorable  "  Peace  Con- 
gress," whereby  the  demon  of  discord  was  ban- 
ished forever  from  the  councils  of  the  nation, 
and  the  North  and  South  were  reconciled  to 
remain  perpetually  locked  in  a  fraternal  em- 
brace. Then  the  opportune  time  would  follow 
when  his  great  work,  the  "Federal  Code,"  would 
be  accepted  by  an  admiring  people  as  a  comple- 
ment to  the  Constitution,  and  an  additional  band 
to  unite  iudissolubly  the  fasces  of  the  Union. 
The  prospect  was  brilliant  and  flattering,  and 
dizzy  eminences  of  fame  bewildered  him.  But 
there  was  much  to  be  done.  It  was  the  hour  for 
action,  and  with  fervent  enthusiasm  he  set  to 
work.  He  opened  a  correspondence  with  every 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE.  131 

prominent  public  man  in  the  country,  every 
prominent  conservative  man  of  course,  on  the 
necessity  of  casting  aloof  from  old  organizations 
and  framing  one  better  adapted  to  meet  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  period. 

The  crisis  was  imminent,  and  prompt  measures 
to  avert  the  peril  were  imperative.    A  movement 

had  been  inaugurated,  of  which  ex-President 

was  at  the  head,  which  required  the  adhesion  of 
every  true  lover  of  his  country,  etc.,  etc.  This 
was  about  the  burden  of  every  despatch,  and  Mr. 
Frisbee,  Mr.  Heath's  secretary,  was  almost  dis- 
tracted with  the  increased  amount  of  writing  and 
multiplicity  of  letters.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Heath 
did  not  slacken  in  his  efforts  to  obtain  the  candi- 
dature for  Governor.  He  wrote  numerous  articles 
for  the  Sentinel,  of  like  tenor  to  the  one  we 
have  quoted,  in  advocacy  of  his  claim  to  the  nom- 
ination, and  wherein,  likewise,  he  showed  no  de- 
sire to  emulate  the  violet.  Senator  Rangle,  who 
had  been  much  flattered  by  Mr.  Heath's  advances, 
was  appealed  to  and  promised  his  aid.  John 
Peter,  whose  peculiar  temperament  was  decidedly 
antipathetic  to  labors  at  the  desk,  was  made  ser- 
viceable in  a  different  way.  He  was  the  go- 


132  -M-A-RTT   GILDERSLEEVE. 


between  at  primary  elections  and  nominating  con- 
vention, to  fee  agents  and  distribute  largess.  His 
chief  mission,  however,  was  to  court  popularity 
in  Belton  and  the  adjoining  towns;  for  it  will  be 
remembered  that  the  Hon.  Rufus  Heath,  despite 
many  munificent  benefactions  and  public-spirited 
acts,  was  anything  but  a  favorite  with  his  neigh- 
bors. No  amount  of  generosity  on  his  part  could 
countervail  the  effects  of  his  ill-concealed  airs  of 
superiority,  and  patronizing  suavity  towards  them, 
and  wounded  self-esteem  never  forgets  nor  for- 
gives. Mr.  Heath  was  unaware  of  the  prevalence 
of  this  feeling  against  him,  and  his  instructions 
to  his  son  were  intended  simply  to  placate  his 
open  and  avowed  opponents.  In  particular  was 
he  anxious  to  conciliate  George  Gildersleeve. 
That  individual,  to  be  sure,  was,  as  he  expressed 
it,  a  "dyed-in-the-wool"  Democrat,  but  Mr.  Heath 
argued  that  at  the  forthcoming  election  old  issues 
would  be  in  a  great  measure  abandoned,  and 
he  hoped,  if  not  able  to  obtain  Gildersleeve's  sup- 
port, to  at  least  secure  his  neutrality.  George, 
in  truth,  would  have  been  a  powerful  auxiliary, 
for  apart  from  the  large  number  pf  men  in  his 
employment,  who  all  liked  him  as  a  fair  and  lib- 


GILDERSLEEVE.  133 


eral  "  boss,"  his  bluff,  hail-fellow  ways  won  the 
hearts  of  the  hard-handed  everywhere;  and  he 
could  control  more  votes  than  any  other  man  in 
the  county.  No  wonder,  then,  that  John  Peter 
suddenly  became  very  deferential  to  him  when 
he  met  him  at  Hank  Bird's  livery  stable-;  no 
wonder  that  he  solicited  George's  opinion  on  the 
merits  of  a  new  trotter,  and  even  came  down  to 
the  Archimedes  Works  for  a  social  chat,  where, 
meeting  Mark,  he  actually  shook  hands  with  him, 
offered  a  cigar,  and  inquired  in  a  pleasant  way 
how  he  was  "  getting  along."  So  astounded  was 
Mark  at  these  unexpected  amenities,  that  he  did 
not  know  how  to  take  them;  but  his  surprise 
over,  he  replied  with  equal  friendliness,  not 
being  one  to  harbor  resentment  when  a  show  of 
placation  was  made  —  especially  when  it  came 
from  Edna  Heath's  brother.  So  the  two  young 
men  had  a  pleasant  smoke  together,  recalled 
reminiscences  of  their  school  days  ;  of  old  Pug- 
wash,  who  kept  the  academy,  and  of  the  great 
conspiracy  in  which  Jack  was  the  ringleader,  to 
thrash  old  Pugwash,  when  the  boys  signed  a  round- 
robin  (an  awful  compact),  with  red  ink  in  lieu 
of  blood,  that  fluid  —  although  the  proper  one  to 


134  MAKK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

have  used  under  the  circumstances — not  being 
readily  procurable ;  and  how  old  Pugwash,  getting 
hold  of  the  round-robin,  turned  the  tables  on  the 
conspirators  by  flogging  them  one  and  all  sound- 
ly. These  and  many  similar  incidents  were 
talked  over  until  all  constraint  wore  off,  and  when 
they  separated,  Mark  felt  convinced  that  he  had 
greatly  misjudged  Jack  Heath,  and  was  much 
pleased  at  the  reconciliation.  He  told  his  sister- 
in-law  that  evening,  when  relating  the  circum- 
stance of  their  meeting,  that  Jack  was  as  good- 
hearted  a  fellow  at  bottom  as  ever  lived,  the 
only  trouble  with  him  being  his  inclination  to 
drink. 

"  Dear,  dear,  what  a  pity  1 "  said  Mrs.  Gilder- 
sleeve,  whose  sympathies  were  instantly  aroused. 
"  I've  noticed  signs  of  it  for  some  time,  and  feel 
so  sorry  for  him.  He  has  grown  so  fleshy  for  a 
young  man,  and  his  face  is  always  so  flaming  red. 
Such  a  beautiful  complexion  as  he  used  to  have, 
too,  when  a  boy — and  to  think  that  it  is  all  owing 
to  this  dreadful,  dreadful  habit  of  drinking !  If 
he  would  only  consent  to  join  our  Band  of  Hope. 
Don't  you  think,  Mark,  you  might  persuade  liim 
to  join  ?  or  do  you  think  it  would  be  better  to 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  135 

have  Brother  Close  speak  to  him  on  the  subject 
first?" 

Mark  shook  his  head  dubiously  at  these  sugges- 
tions, as  if  he  mistrusted  his  ability  or  that  of  the 
entire  Band  of  Hope,  to  say  nothing  of  Brother 
Close,  to  induce  Jack  Heath  to  falter  in  his  devo- 
tion to  strong  waters. 

"I'm  afraid  it's  inherited,  sister  Margaret," 
said  he.  "  They  say  he  had  a  grand-uncle  who 
died  from  the  effects  of  drink,  and  that  his 
grandfather,  old  Mr.  Obershaw,  had  a  great  pro- 
pensity that  way,  and  that  the  only  thing  that 
saved  him  was  his  stinginess.  Much  as  he  loved 
liquor,  he  loved  money  more,  and  seldom  drank 
it  except  at  somebody  else's  expense." 

"Well,  my  child,  let  us  not  judge  lest  we 
be  judged.  Old  Mr.  Obershaw  no  doubt  did  a 
great  many  good  deeds  that  we  know  nothing 
about,  and  as  he  is  now  in  the  hands  of  One  who 
is  all-wise  and  merciful,  it  does  not  become  us  to 
pass  judgment  on  his  memory.  I  don't  see  why  it 
is  that  people  are  so  censorious ;  I  should  think  that 
after  all  the  money  that  Mr.  Obershaw  spent  in 
building  that  church  and  endowing  it,  that  every 
sensible  person  would  be  convinced  that  he  was  a 


136  MARK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

Christian,  and  I'm  sure  no  one  could  find  fault 
with  the  way  in  which  the  money  he  saved  is 
being  used,  for  there  is  not  an  institution,  or  a 
society,  or  object  of  any  kind,  that  the  Heaths 
don't  give  to." 

"  That  may  all  be,  sister  Margaret,  and  it's 
very  praiseworthy,  no  doubt.  All  I  said,  or 
meant  to  say,  was  that  I  didn't  think  Jack  Heath 
was  so  much  to  blame  for  drinking,  as  he  inherited 
the  propensity  from  his  grandfather,  who  they  say 
had  the  reputation  of  being  a  hard  drinker." 

"  "Well,  I  suppose  we  shall  all  have  to  answer 
for  ourselves,"  replied  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  reflect- 
ively. "  And  very  likely  it's  his  misfortune  and 
not  his  fault." 

The  worthy  lady's  capacity  for  forgiveness  and 
charity  was  unbounded ;  far  more  ready,  too,  to 
defend  than  to  censure,  and  she  doubtless  would 
have  had  a  good  word  for  Satan  himself,  had  his 
sable  majesty  been  captured  and  arraigned  for 
judgment. 


MAEK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  137 


VIII. 

MONTH  after  month  passed  away,  and  Mark  had 
not  dared  to  repeat  his  visit  at  the  Cliff.  Gladly 
would  he  have  done  so,  however,  could  he  have 
found  any  plausible  pretext.  One  important 
point,  however,  was  gained.  He  had  learned  that 
Edna  Heath  was  not  the  inaccessible  princess  he 
had  imagined;  and  moreover,  enjoyed  the  ex- 
treme gratification  of  knowing,  or  rather  feeling, 
that  she  was  aware  of  his  existence — that  she  act- 
ually remembered,  and  even  noticed  him,  when 
he  met  her  at  the  church-porch  on  Sundays. 
These  opportunities  were  almost  the  only  ones 
he  had  of  seeing  her,  but  the  smile  and  bow 
with  which  she  recognized  him  were  enough 
to  fill  his  heart  with  pleasure  during  the  in- 
tervening week.  Occasionally  when  at  work 
he  would  hear  the  well-known  din  of  the 
Heath  equipage  dashing  up  Main  Street  in  all 
the  pomp  of  its  domestics  in  drab  liveries,  and 
Dalmatian  dogs,  and  his  pulse  would  quicken,  if 


13S  MARK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

through  his  window  he  caught  a  momentary 
glimpse  of  Edna  among  the  occupants  of  the 
vehicle.  He  failed  not  to  take  his  evening  strolls 
towards  the  Cliff;  to  pass  and  repass  the  huge 
iron  gates  that  seemed  to  bar  him  from  his  dear- 
est hopes ;  and  to  linger  about,  indulging  in  all 
those  absurd,  preposterous  fancies  that  addle  the 
pates  of  all  true  lovers. 

Summer  came,  and  Edna  went  off  with  the 
Mumbies  on  a  long  tour  through  the  "White 
Mountains  and  Canada.  During  her  absence, 
how  desolate  and  dreary  the  world  seemed  to 
Mark !  Belton  became  unbearable,  and  he  wan- 
dered about  its  streets  in  a  frame  of  mind  com- 
pared to  which  Marius'  feelings  amid  the  ruins 
of  Carthage  were  bliss.  It  was  in  one  of  these 
melancholy  fits  that  he  composed  his  elegiac 
stanzas,  entitled  Love's  Coronach,  and  commenc- 
ing with  these  lugubrious  lines : 

Shadows  from  the  plumed  pall, 
Enwrap  my  soul  in  woe, 
My  life,  my  hope,  my  all 
Is  gone  !     And  every  poignant  throe 
etc.,     etc.,      etc. 

But  when  she  returned,  the  world  seemed  to 


MARK  GILDERSLEEVE.  139 

recover  its  glory,  life  its  spice,  and  he  was 
happy  in  being  near  her,  even  if  he  did  not  see 
her.  "When  autumn  came,  and  the  grove  near 
the  Falls  and  the  maples  along  the  river  road  were 
gorgeous  with  brilliant  hues,  Mark  took  long 
walks  along  the  Passaic-side,  chiefly  to  meet  Miss 
Heath,  who  rode  often  on  horseback,  and  went 
dashing  along  at  a  pace  that  the  groom  in  at- 
tendance had  difficulty  in  keeping  up  with. 
She  always  found  time,  however,  to  acknowl- 
edge Mark's  salute,  as  he  stood  staring  in  re- 
spectful admiration  at  the  lithe,  graceful  figure, 
so  smart  in  dark  riding  habit,  small  white  collar 
and  blue  silk  cravat.  He  was  selfish  enough  to 
wish  at  those  times  that  her  horse  would  bolt 
over  the  bank  into  the  river,  or  do  something 
that  would  give  him  a  chance  to  rescue  her  life 
at  the  peril  of  his  own,  and  so  prove  his  devotion. 
Fortunately,  perhaps,  for  the  young  lady,  no  such 
opportunity  occurred,  and  our  hero  was  obliged 
to  content  himself  with  less  demonstrative  wor- 
ship and  vent  his  passion  in  scribbling  poetic 
numbers. 

The  shortened  days  and  inclement  weather  of 
winter  curtailed  Mark's  rambles,  and  his  evenings 


140  MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

were  spent  with  his  piano  and  books  at  home,  or 
with  his  briar-wood  pipe  and  chess  at  Dr.  Wattle- 
top's. 

One  evening  as  he  sat  down  to  tea  in  the  little 
basement  dining-room,  his  sister-in-law,  with  a 
significant  smile,  laid  an  elegant  envelope  by 
the  side  of  his  plate.  "  There,  Mark,"  said  she, 
"  there  is  something  that  will  please  you,  I've  no 
doubt." 

He  opened  the  envelope  with  a  little  trepida- 
tion, and  found  it  to  contain,  as  he  had  half -sus- 
pected, an  engraved  request  from  Miss  Heath, 
for  the  pleasure  of  his  company  at  "  The  Cliff," 
on  a  certain  evening. 

"  When  it  came  this  afternoon,"  said  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve,  "  I  was  in  such  a  flutter.  Bridget 
was  out  to  see  her  sick  sister,  and  I  was  washing 
the  dinner  things  when  the  bell  rang.  I  just 
took  time  to  dry  my  hands  and  ran  to  the  door, 
for  I  expected  as  much  as  could  be  that  it  was 
one  of  the  men  from  the  Works  that  your  brother 
said  he  would  send  to  fix  the  grate,  and  I  was  so 
confused  when  I  saw  it  was  a  stranger — the  young 
man  with  a  cockade  on  his  hat  that  follows  Miss 
Heath  when  she  goes  out  horseback  riding — I 


MAEK  GILDKBSLEEVE.  141 

don't  know  whether  you  have  ever  noticed  him 
or  not  ? " 

Mark  said  he  thought  he  had ;  and  his  brother 
remarked  that  it  was  another  of  those  English 
liveried  flunkeys  that  that  old  aristocrat,  Rufe 
Heath,  had  imported  to  demoralize  our  democratic 
institutions. 

"George,"  said  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  reproach- 
fully, "  you  shouldn't  talk  in  that  way,  my  dear. 
Mr.  Heath  does  a  great  deal  of  good — a  great 
deal ;  and  as  for  the  young  man,  I'm  sure  he  was 
very  respectful  and  well-behaved,  indeed.  I 
don't  know,  though,  what  he  must  have  thought, 
for  I  must  have  looked  very  untidy,  and  I  was  so 
confused  and  flushed  that  I  never  once  thought 
of  asking  him  whether  he  would  walk  in  and  sit 
down,. which  wasn't  a  bit  polite  or  hospitable  on 
my  part.  I  hope,  Mark,  you  will  accept  this 
invitation,  for  you  should  certainly  go  out  in 
society  more  than  you  do.  I  do  wish  you  had 
been  with  us  the  other  evening  at  Mrs.  Sniffen's 
tea-party.  I  don't  know  when  I  have  had  such  a 
delightful  time.  Bishop  White  was  there,  and 
the  new  minister  who  has  been  stationed  lately  at 
the  Furnaces — the  Rev.  Mr.  Rousemup.  His 


142  MARK  GILDERSLEEVK 

wife  has  a  beautiful  voice,  and  she  sang '  Plunged 
in  a  Gulf  of  Dark  Despair '  so  sweetly,  that  I'm 
sure  there  couldn't  have  been  a  dry  eye  present. 
I  know  you  would  have  enjoyed  it.  But  lately 
you  have  taken  to  staying  in  your  room  too  much ; 
you  seem  to  have  given  up  the  Debating  Society 
altogether  and  never  go  anywhere,  except  it  is  to 
Dr.  Wattletop's,  and  I  must  confess  that  I  don't 
half  like  it.  The  doctor,  to  be  sure,  is  one  of 
the  kindest  and  best  souls  in  the  world,  but  he 
has  such  very  queer  notions.  They  even  go  so 
far  as  to  say  that  he  is  a  freethinker.  Now  I 
would  be  very  sorry  to  believe  that  of  any  one ;  but 
he  says  such  very  strange  things,  if  the  reports  are 
true,  and  Brother  Close  told  me  that  Mrs.  Slocum 
told  him,  that  her  nephew,  James  Cudlipp,  said 
that  when  he  lived  at  old  Mrs.  Bradbury's,  and 
her  brother  died,  he  heard  the  doctor  with  his 
own  ears  say  at  the  funeral,  that  when  people 
became  more  civilized,  they  would  burn  the  re- 
mains of  the  dead  and  preserve  their  ashes  in 
marble  urns,  instead  of  burying  them  in  the  earth. 
Now,  I  do  think  such  an  idea  as  that  is  shocking 
and  perfectly  dreadful." 

"  Well,  Maggie,"  put  in  her  husband,  as  he 


MARK  GILDERSLEEVE.  143 

buttered  a  fresh  biscuit,  "  every  man  to  his  trade. 
Dr.  Wattletop  ain't  no  dominie,  and  don't  pretend 
to  be,  but  his  head's  level  on  physic,  and  he's  no 
slouch  of  a  sawbones,  either.  When  he  cut  off 
Sammy  Tooker's  leg  I  timed  him,  and  he  had  it 
all  done  clean  in  ten  minutes  and  fourteen  sec- 
onds by  my  stop-watch,  and  Sammy's  brother  said 
it  was  the  best  job  of  the  kind  he  ever  saw 
done ;  and  he  ought  to  know,  being  a  butcher 
himself.  Why,  Pokemore,  that  you  think  is  the 
greatest  doctor  in  the  world,  I'll  bet  would  have 
taken  hours  to  do  it,  and  made  a  botch  of  it  after 
all.  The  only  fault  I  have  to  find  with  Wattle- 
top  is,  that  he's  such  a  pig-headed  John  Bull." 

Mark  ventured  a  few  words  in  defence  of  his 
friend  the  doctor,  and  endeavored  to  allay  the 
rising  apprehensions  of  Mrs.  Gildersleeve  in  re- 
gard to  his  imbibing  any  unwholesome  opinions 
from  the  eccentric  physician. 

"  Now,  Mark,"  continued  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  "  I 
do  hope  you  will  spruce  up,  and  make  yourself  as 
agreeable  as  possible  at  Miss  Heath's  party.  I'll 
say  this  for  her,  that  there  isn't  a  nicer,  sweeter, 
or  more  charitable  girl  ,in  all  Belton  than  she  is. 
Mrs.  Sniffen  says  that  she  never  calls  upon  her 


144:  MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

for  any  contribution  for  any  object  whatever,  but 
what  she  gets  all  and  more  than  she  asks  for ;  and 
I  do  believe  she  supplies  every  sick  person  and 
funeral  in  the  town  with  hot-house  grapes  and 
flowers.  Then  she's  so  very  lady-like  too.  Dear 
me,  if  I  were  a  young  man — well,  I  should  think 
you'd  feel  very  much  pleased  at  this  invitation, 
especially  as  you  never  took  any  pains  to  make 
yourself  agreeable  to  the  family.  Bat  then,  to 
be  sure,  Edna  Heath  is  kind  to  every  one,  and  I 
do  believe  that  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in 
Belton  loves  her." 

Mark  felt  as  if  he  could  not  see  the  necessity 
for  that,  and,  if  it  were  so,  as  if  the  population  of 
the  town  had  audaciously  conspired  to  infringe 
on  his  province. 

His  brother,  as  he  rose  from  table,  also  prof- 
fered advice  on  the  subject,  "  If  you  can  hang  up 
your  hat  in  that  house,  Mark,  you're  made  for 
life.  She'll  have  more  dollars  than  you  can 
shake  a  stick  at,  or  know  what  to  do  with. 
Never  mind  the  old  man ;  there's  a  good  deal  of 
nonsense  in  E-ufe  Heath's  airs,  and  he's  mild  as 
milk  if  he  finds  you  aint  anyway  awed.  Keep  a 
stiff  upper  lip— don't  be  cowed,  and  you're  bound 


MABK   GILDEESLEEVE.  145 

to  win.  Whatever  you  do,  though,  be  independent 
— independent  as  a  hog  on  ice,  and  they'll  like 
you  all  the  better  for  it.  That's  my  advice. 
Time  I  was  off  to  the  Lodge." 

Mrs.  Gildersleeve  did  not  entirely  approve  of 
her  husband's  way  of  putting  it,  and  observed, 
"  As  to  what  your  brother  says,  Mark,  about  Miss 
Heath's  fortune,  or  her  father's  fortune,  I  know 
you  never  would  be  actuated  by  any  motives  in 
regard  to  that.  Miss  Heath,  I'm  sure,  will  be  a 
treasure  and  prize  to  any  man  even  if  she  never 
has  a  penny  in  the  world." 

"Very  likely,"  said  Mark,  affecting  indifference. 
"  Miss  Heath  is  certainly  a  very  pleasant  and  re- 
fined young  lady." 

"  Indeed,  she  is,"  said  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  em- 
phatically, "and  more  than  that,  a  very  good 
young  lady." 

Mark's  gratification  at  receiving  the  invitation 
was  instantly  dampened,  when  he  reflected  that  he 
could  not  avail  of  it  without  exposing  himself  to 
unfavorable  comparison  in  the  eyes  of  one  whom 
he  was  most  desirous  of  pleasing.  The  old  feel- 
ing of  false  shame,  the  morbid  sensitiveness  in 


146  MA32K  GILDEESLKEVE. 

regard  to  his  lameness,  revived ;  and  he  dreaded 
to  challenge  criticism  in  an  assemblage  where  he 
longed  to  shine.  Hence  it  was  with  a  sharp  pang 
of  mortified  vanity  and  disappointment  that  he 
set  about  writing  a  "  regret,"  alleging  as  an  ex- 
cuse for  not  being  able  to  accept  Miss  Heath's  in- 
vitation, the  conventional  fib,  a  prior  engagement. 
Twice  he  wrote  such  a  missive,  and  each  time 
tore  it  up  when  in  the  struggle  between  sense  and 
self-love  the  former  gained  the  ascendancy ;  but 
in  the  end  that  exaggerated  self-importance  which 
leads  us  to  believe  the  rest  of  the  world  vastly  in- 
terested in  our  haps  and  mishaps,  our  appearance 
and  position — this  infatuation  triumphed,  and  the 
"  regret "  was  despatched. 

"  Well,  Mark,"  said  Mrs.  Gildersleeve  on  the 
appointed  evening,  "Miss  Heath's  party  comes 
off  to-night,  don't  it  ?  From  all  I  hear  it's  going 
to  be  a  grand  affair.  They  say  there  have  been  I 
don't  know  how  many  hundred  invitations  sent 
out,  and  some  are  coming  even  from  New  York." 

"  So  much  the  better,  then,  for  I  don't  think  I 
shall  be  missed,"  said  Mark  with  a  forced  smile. 

Mrs.  Gildersleeve  dropped  her  work  and  looked 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  147 

• 

at  him  in  surprise.  "  Missed !  You  don't  mean 
to  say  that  you  are  not  going  ?  " 

Mark  looked  rather  confused.  "  I  do  mean  to 
say  so.  I — I  don't  feel  like  it." 

"  Dear  me,  you're  not  sick,  I  hope  ?  "  inquired 
Mrs.  Gildersleeve  with  a  look  of  concern. 

"  No,  sister,  no — but  I'm  not  in  the  humor  to 

go-" 

"  Why,  really,  I'm  so  surprised  and  sorry.  I 
thought  you  would  certainly  take  advantage  of 
such  an  invitation,  for  I  know  you  would  enjoy 
it  very  much  if  you  went.  There  is  nothing  ails 
you,  is  there,  Mark  ? "  said  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  re- 
peating her  inquiry. 

"  No,  sister  Margaret,  no,"  replied  Mark  with  a 
little  impatience,  and  to  escape  his  sister-in-law's 
inquisitive  solicitude,  he  withdrew  to  his  room. 
He  took  up  his  guitar  and  tried  to  thrum  the 
Jota  Aragonesa,  but  there  was  no  melody  there 
to  soothe  his  troubled  breast.  Ht  skimmed  over 
a  page  or  two  of  Burton's  "  Anatomy  of  Melan- 
choly," that  Dr.  Wattletop  had  recommended  him 
to  read,  but  his  feelings  were  too  much  in  conso- 
nance with  the  subject  treated  of  to  be  diverted  by 
it,  and  he  threw  the  book  aside,  filled  his  briar- 


14:8  MAKK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

• 

wood  pipe,  and  sought  consolation  in  Killikin- 
nick.  Even  that  resource  failed  him,  and  the 
fire  in  the  bowl  died  away  unheeded.  Then  to 
shake  off  the  tristful  thoughts  he  paced  his  room, 
but  the  old  wound  inflicted  by  Edna's  cruel  com- 
miseration seemed  to  bleed  afresh,  and  the  re- 
membrance of  that  bitter  pity  unceasingly  re- 
turned, until  chagrin  gave  place  to  anger  vented 
in  fierce  execrations  on  his  halting  foot,  alterna- 
ted with  lamentations  on  his  unfortunate  condi- 
tion. He  believed  he  could  have  borne  almost  any 
other  bodily  infirmity  better,  and  would  gladly 
have  given  his  right  arm  to  walk  as  other  men. 
What  an  effort  it  had  cost  him  to  deny  himself 
the  inestimable  pleasure  of  beholding  the  object 
of  his  adoration  in  all  the  prido  of  her  beauty ! 
And  yet,  why  had  he  done  so  ?  Although  imper- 
fect in  a  trivial  degree,  would  he,  after  all,  suffer 
much  in  comparison  with  others  ?  Byron,  the 
splendid  Byron,  was  laiue,  and  so  was  Walter 
Scott,  and  were  they  not  the  idols  of  society  2 
Would  her  glance  fall  that  evening  on  a  hand- 
somer face  ?  He  stopped  before  a  mirror,  that 
reflected  eyes  full  of  superb  fire,  and  a  brow  as 
fine  as  any  that  ever  adorned  child  of  Hellas,  and 


MAKK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  149 

he  smiled  with  gratified  vanity,  like  a  brainless 
coquette.  But  instantly  ashamed  of  his  weakness, 
he  turned  away,  drew  on  his  overcoat,  and  sought 
the  streets  to  distract  him  from  unwholesome 
reveries.  Unwittingly  his  feet  followed  the  ac- 
customed path,  and  he  was  half  way  to  the  Cliff 
before  he  discovered  his  absence  of  mind.  He 
would  have  retraced  his  steps  and  gone  in  an- 
other direction,  but  an  irresistible  impulse  urged 
him  on. 

It  was  a  fine  frosty  night  in  February.  There 
was  no  moon,  but  the  myriad  of  stars  that  stud- 
ded the  dark  sky  glinted  like  gems,  and  the  at- 
mosphere was  bracing  and  exhilarating.  Mr. 
Heath's  residence  presented  a  brilliant  scene. 
The  lamps  on  the  gate-posts,  those  hanging  in  the 
porch,  and  the  many  illuminated  windows  shed 
rays  that  tinted  to  brilliance  the  snow  covering 
the  lawn  and  flecking  the  dark  evergreens ;  while 
here  and  there  a  pendant  icicle  or  the  rime-cov- 
ered bough  of  a  tree  coruscated  like  a  crystal 
prism.  Mark  stood  for  some  time  'in  contempla- 
tion. He  heard  the  sound  of  rippling  music,  the 
muffled  patter  of  hoofs  and  creaking  of  wheels 
over  the  crisp  snow  as  carriage  after  carriage  de- 


150  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

posited  its  burden  at  the  porch.  At  length,  as  if 
drawn  by  some  invisible  magnet,  he  went  stealthi- 
ly up  the  avenue,  slinking  behind  the  evergreens, 
and  endeavored  to  gain  a  position  whence  to  Io9k 
unobserved  through  the  drawing-room  windows. 
He  felt  like  a  spy,  and  started  at  every  sound  with 
fear  of  being  discovered,  but  the  temptation  to 
see  Edna  was  too  powerful,  and  curiosity  over- 
came his  scruples.  Climbing  on  the  ledge  of  a 
conservatory,  he  could,  by  placing  his  feet  on  the 
chamfered  stone-work  of  the  building,  reach  the 
level  of  a  large  bay-window  at  one  end  of  the 
drawing-room.  An  inside  sash  was  partly  open,  so 
that  he  could  both  see  and  hear  through  the 
blinds  and  remain  unperceived.  lie  now  wit- 
nessed a  sight  that  soon  banished  his  melancholy, 
for  joy  in  its  fellows  has  a  contagious  influence 
over  youth  difficult  to  resist,  and  he  regretted  the 
foolish  resolve  he  had  made  to  abstain  from 
joining  the  party.  They  were  nearly  all  young 
people;  among  them,  however,  many  strangers 
to  Belton.  Mrs.  Applegate,  who  matronized 
them,  rustled  about  in  a  voluminous  dress  of 
moire-antique,  and  young  Mrs.  Heath  sat  in  an 
easy-chair  in  one  corner,  resplendent  with  dia- 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  151 

moncls  and  languidly  rattling  a  Spanish  fan, 
while  her  lord  stood  leaning  in  a  door-way  look- 
ing sulky,  bored,  and  uncomfortable  as  he  fum- 
bled away  at  a  pair  of  tight  gloves.  The  Rev. 
Spencer  Abbott,  in  the  neatest  of  clerical  attire, 
was  sauntering  leisurely  from  group  to  group, 
with  his  hands  behind  his  back  and  an  air  of  mild 
benignity  on  his  pallid  countenance.  Present, 
too,  were  "Will  Hull  and  his  sister  Constance,  the 
Judge's  grandchildren,  and  the  Mumbies ;  Ada, 
Bob,  and  the  younger  brother,  Decatur,  a  sprig 
from  the  Naval  Academy,  evidently  under  the 
effects  of  his  gilt  buttons  and  embroidered  foul- 
anchors.  Mark  was  not  long  in  discovering 
Edna.  Her  fair  face  was  heightened  in  color, 
and  beaming  with  joy.  His  eyes  followed  her 
eagerly  amid  the  couples  that  whirled  swiftly  by, 
and  he  caught  glimpses  of  her  satin-shod  feet, 
arched  like  an  Arab  maid's.  The  music  ceased, 
and  the  confused  chatter  of  many  voices  arose. 
Close  by  him  came  a  group  of  girls  prattling  to- 
gether, and  discussing  their  partners  with  the 
frankness  of  guileless  maidenhood.  Scraps  of 
their  conversation  reached  him.  One  of  the  girls 
was  Constance  Hull.  Said  she,  "I  do  so  like 


152  MAUK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

to  dance  with  Alfred,  he  keeps  such  excellent 
time." 

"  But  then  he  parts  his  hair  in  the  middle, 
Constance,  and  I  think  that  is  so  horrid.  Did 
you  notice  his  malachite  sleeve-buttons  and  topaz 
studs  ?  "Wretched  taste,  isn't  it  ?  They  say  he  is 
engaged  too — dear  me !  I  don't  see  how  any  one 
could  marry  a  person  with  so  little  idea  of  what 
is  becoming.  Do  tell  me  who  that  gentleman  is 
that  was  dancing  with  Edna  ?  I  do  think  he  is 
too  handsome  for  anything." 

"  Why,  don't  you  know  ?  Why,  it's  Sarah  Car- 
ver's cousin,  Fred  Spooner — isn't  he  splendid? 
He  came  all  the  way  from  Boston.  lie's  quite 
smitten  with  Edna,  and  I  know  she  admires  him." 

* 

Mark's  eavesdropping  was  sufficiently  punished 
by  this  intelligence,  but  he  was  destined  to  suffer 
still  further  when  he  saw  Edna  dancing  again 
with  this  admirer,  who  was  a  tall  blooming 
fellow,  all  ease  and  grace.  He  felt  a  pang  of 
jealousy  when  he  saw  them  after  the  dance 
promenading  together;  Spooner  chatting  with 
animation  and  proud  of  his  partner,  while  she 
looked  at  him  evidently  pleased  and  amused  at 
his  remarks.  They  came  directly  towards  the 


MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  153 

window  and  took  seats  in  the  recess.  Miss  Hull 
and  her  companions  had  left  the  spot,  and  the 
young  fellow  probably  desired  to  enjoy  a  tete-d- 
tete.  He  was  pleading  for  a  flower  from  Edna's 
nosegay.  "I  beg  and  beseech  you  to  bestow 
upon  me  a  bud  from  your  beautiful  bouquet." 

"  Dear  me,"  said  Edna,  "  what  a  quantity  of 
B's!" 

"  Yes,  quite  a  swarm,  attracted  by  your  exces- 
sive sweetness,  of  course,"  smirked  Spooner, 
pleased  at  his  effort  at  wit ;  while  Mark,  who  had 
caught  every  word,  thought  it  very  silly,  not  to 
say  impertinent. 

Edna  selected  a  rosebud,  which  she  gave  to 
her  companion,  who  placed  it  in  his  button-hole. 
"  I  shall  keep  it  forever,  Miss  Heath." 

"  Indeed,  how  long  is  your  forever  ?  " 

"As  long  as  memory  holds  a  seat  in  this  dis- 
tracted brain,  and  longer.  I'll  take  it  home,  and 
when  it  wilts  I'll  press  it  in  my  prayer-book." 

"  Where  you  are  sure  never  to  see  it  again," 
remarked  Edna. 

"  Merciless  Miss  Heath ! — Excessively  warm, 
though,  here,  isn't  it?  Hadn't  I  better  throw 
open  the  top  blind  ? "  and  with  that  he  pushed  it 


154:  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

open,  causing  Mark  to  shrink  aside  to  avoid  dis- 
covery, "  Warm  as  a  dog-day,  isn't  it  ?  Talking 
of  dogs,  are  you  fond  of  'em,  Miss  Heath?  I've 
got  just  the  smallest  black-and-tan — well,  he 
don't  weigh  over  twenty-three  ounces,  and  if  you 
would  only  accept  him,  I'd  be  so  delighted.  I 
think  the  world  of  him,  and  to  know  that  he  was 
constantly  near  you,  would  make  me  the  happiest 
feller  in  existence.  To  be  sure  his  ears  aren't 
cropped  yet.  Do  you  like  cropped  black-and- 
tans  ?  Or  if  you'd  prefer  a  Spitz  ?  I've  got  a 
real  nice  Spitz,  but  he's  snappish.  Spitzes  are 
apt  to  be  snappish,  haven't  you  noticed  ?  But  then 
he's  just  as  good  a  ratter  as  any  black-and-tau 
you  ever  saw.  When  you  come  to  Boston,  if  you 
and  Sarah  Carver  will  only  come  to  Roxbury — " 
By  this  time,  the  Rev.  Spencer  Abbott,  who 
was  on  his  third  round  of  inspection,  came  up 
with  a  graceful  droop  to  the  couple :  "  Reposing 
after  the  fatigue  of  the  dance,  I  presume,  Miss 
Edna?  What  a  beautiful  bouquet!  Really, 
Miss  Edna,  I  think  you  have  the  most  beautiful 
bouquet  of  any  young  lady  present.  Miss  Mum- 
bie  has  an  elegant  one,  but  the  blending  of  hues 
is  hardly  so  artistic  in  hers.  Yours,  ah — presents 


MAJIK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  155 

to  the  eye  of  the  observer  such  a — such  an  ex- 
quisite juxtaposition  of  colors.  How  fragrant, 
too !  Roses — heliotrope — Dame  Nature's  jewels. 
What  a  singularly  beautiful  conceit  and  myth 
that  was  of  the  ancients,  that  roses  sprang  from 
the  blood  of  Yenus.  Dear  me,  there's  quite  a 
draught  here.  Ah!  I  see — a  window  down — 
aren't  you  afraid  of  catching  cold  ?  Lovely  as  a 
Lapland  night — a  majestic  one,  truly !  How  for- 
cibly is  one  reminded  of  Milton's  noble  lines: 

"  '  How  glows  the  firmament  with  living  sapphires 
Hesperus  that  led — '  " 

Fortunately  for  Miss  Heath,  who  feared  the 
parson  was  about  to  favor  her  with  a  book  or  two 
of  "Paradise  Lost,"  Bob  Mumbiecame  up  to  claim 
her  for  a  redowa,  and  the  Rev.  Spencer  Abbott 
sauntered  off  and  betook  himself  to  a  critical  ex- 
amination, accompanied  with  poetical  comments, 
of  Mercedita  Heath's  fan.  Mark  noticed  that 
Edna  had  left  her  handkerchief  on  the  tripod 
near  the  window,  and  as  Fred  Spooner  had 
darted  away  with  Miss  Muinbie  and  the  coast 
•was  clear,  a  sudden  and  uncontrollable  desire 
seized  him  to  possess  this  handkerchief.  Yield- 


156  MAtyR"   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

ing  to  the  impulse,  and  without  further  reflection, 
he  raised  the  lower  sash  of  the  window,  crouched 
under  the  tripod,  snatched  the  coveted  article, 
and  frightened  at  his  temerity,  instantly  with- 
drew. He  hastened  homeward,  pressing  the  bit 
of  cambric  to  his  lips,  and  rhapsodizing  as  he 
went  along  like  a  demented  Strephon.  When  he 
arrived  home,  he  found  his  sister-in-law  sitting 
up  for  him.  She  noticed  that  he  looked  somewhat 
flushed  and  disturbed,  but  as  he  seemed  to  avoid 
her  scrutinizing  eyes,  she  did  not  question  him. 
What  a  night  of  fever  and  torment  he  passed  ! 
The  conflicting  emotions  that  agitated  him  ban- 
ished sleep.  The  delicate  web  he  had  filched 
lay  under  his  burning  cheek  and  throbbing  tem- 
ples ;  its  subtle  perfume  intoxicated  him,  evoking 
ecstatic  glamour  and  vivid  visions  of  Edna's  face 
radiant  with  joy  and  beauty.  Then  jealousy 
swept  the  chords  of  his  sensitive  nature,  as  he 
recalled  the  smiles  bestowed  on  his  presumed 
rival,  and  bitter  curses  on  his  defective  foot  fol- 
lowed, until,  in  the  struggle  between  tumultuous 
passion  and  reason,  his  better  sense  triumphed, 
and  tears  bedewed  his  eyes — tears  of  vexation 
that  he  should  be  so  childish,  so  vain,  and  envious. 


MAEK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  157 

As  he  lay  thus,  his  door  was  softly  opened,  and 
he  heard  the  voice  of  his  sister-in-law  inquiring 
if  he  were  indisposed  2 

"  No,  no,  Sister  Margaret,  thank  you.  Please 
don't  disturb  yourself." 

"  I  heard  a  noise,  and  feared  you  might  be 
taken  ill." 

"No,  thank  you.  Please  leave  me."  His 
heart  was  stilled  at  this  fresh  evidence  of  tender 
solicitude  on  the  part  of  one,  who  had  been  to 
him  all  that  a  mother  could  be.  He  contrasted 
her  calm,  cheerful  ways  and  unselfishness  with 
his  egotism  and  discontent.  Repentant,  he 
prayed  to  be  forgiven,  and  soon  after  fell  asleep. 


158  MART?    GILDERSLEEVE. 


IX. 

THE  next  morning  his  jaded  face  told  plainly  of 
the  mental  struggle  he  had  undergone.  He  took 
up  Edna's  handkerchief,  pressed  it  to  his  lips  rever- 
entially, as  if  it  had  been  a  shred  from  the  robe  of 
a  saint,  and  then  reflected  how  he  should  return  it 
to  its  owner  without  exciting  suspicion  or  betray- 
ing his  impertinent  freak.  "  She's  a  seraph  and 
I'm  an  idiot ! "  was  his  pithy  conclusion, "  An  egre- 
gious and  presumptuous  idiot !  If  she  knew  all, 
what  a  laughing-stock  I  should  be  to  her!  I  will 
not  think  of  her  again,  but  as  one  to  worship. 
What  am  I,  or  what  have  I  done  to  merit  any 
favor  from  her  \  What  could  she  ever  possibly 
see  in  me  ?  I  must  and  shall  try  to  forget  her. 
No — I  would  be  very  ungrateful  to  do  that.  But 
I  must  only  esteem,  respect,  and  worship  her  at  a 
distance;  and  if  she  prefers  that  tall,  girlish, 
dancing-Jack,  why — no,  I  have  no  right  to  think 
that.  Well,  I  must  return  the  handkerchief  in 
some  way,  and  then  we  shall  be  henceforth  as 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  159 

strangers — not  exactly  strangers — but  I  will  only 
think  of  her  as  an  acquaintance."  f 

He  held  to  this  resolution  for  at  least  a  week, 
rigidly  schooling  his  heart  to  submission;  but 
alas,  this  resolve  met  the  fate  of  its  kind,  for  on 
the  eighth  day  he  accidentally  saw  the  disturber 
of  his  peace,  and  away,  to  the  four  winds  of 
heaven  went  all  humility  and  self-abnegation. 
And  he  met  her  of  all  places — in  a  workshop. 
Edna  happened  to  be  passing  the  Archimedes 
Works  on  her  return  from  the  stationer's,  when 
the  proprietor,  who  was  looking  out  of  the  win- 
dow of  his  counting-room,  caught  a  glimpse  of 
her,  and  going  out  accosted  the  young  lady,  much 
to  her  surprise,  with  a  request  to  walk  into  his 
office  a  moment  as  he  wanted  to  consult  her. 
She  good-naturedly  complied,  and  went  into  the 
room,  where  the  old  book-keeper  bustled  about 
to  dust  a  chair  for  her,  and  the  junior  clerks 
were  rather  distracted  from  their  labors  by  the 
apparition  of  such  a  visitor. 

"  What  I  wanted  was  to  ask  your  opinion  of  a 
new  cart  I've  been  getting,  Miss  Heath,"  said 
George  Gildersleeve. 

"  A  cart,  Mr.  Gildersleeve  ? "  repeated  Edna. 


160  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

"  Yes,  a  cart  de  visit." 

"  Oh,  a  photograph,"  said  Edna. 

"Yes.  Mrs.  Gildersleeve's  sister,  Mrs.  Rob- 
erts, who  lives  in  Trenton,  hasn't  got  one  of  mine, 
and  I  promised  to  send  her  one;  so  I've  been 
getting  some  struck  off.  Now  here  are  the 
proofs  of  three  different  kinds.  Snopple  got  'em 
up;  and  as  you're  a  young  lady  of  taste,  the 
thought  struck  me,  as  I  saw  you  go  by,  that  you'd 
be  a  capital  judge  and  I  want  your  opinion  as 
to  which  is  the  best." 

Edna,  rather  amused,  scrutinized  the  pictures 
that  represented  George  looking  like  a  comely 
bulldog,  arid  said  that  she  thought  they  were  all 
fair  likenesses. 

"  But  which  is  the  best  ?  Tliis  one's  a  new 
attitood  for  me.  I  never  had  one  taken  in  that 
way  before.  Suppose  you  were  picking  one  out 
for  yourself,  which  would  you  choose  ?  " 

To  please  him,  Edna  gave  the  preference  to  one 
over  the  others. 

"  "Well — I  don't  know  but  you're  right,"  said 
George  reflectively,  as  he  admired  the  one  se- 
lected. "I'll  have  a  lot  of  these  struck  off, 
and  when  they're  finished,  I  won't  forget  to 


MAKE  GILDEESLEEVE.  161 

send  you  one,  unless  you  prefer  one  of  these  full 
faces."  * 

Edna  said  no — that  the  first  one  mentioned 
would  do,  and  thanked  him.  Noticing  the  horse- 
shoe over  the  fire-place,  she  inquired  whether  it 
were  hung  there  to  keep  off  witches,  or  for  good- 
luck. 

"  Good-luck  ? — no,  not  exactly,  although  I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  it  had  brought  us  good-luck. 
As  for  the  witches,  you  see  yourself  it  don't  keep 
off  the  most  dangerous  kind — the  young  and 
beautiful  ones,"  replied  George,  with  an  attempt 
to  be  gallant. 

"  Oh  thank  you,  Mr.  Gildersleeve ;  you're  very 
flattering  indeed,"  replied  Edna  with  a  smile. 

"  I  wouldn't  take  five  hundred  dollars  for  that 
horse-shoe,  Miss  Heath,"  resumed  George  proudly. 

« Indeed,"  said  Edna. 

"No,  nor  a  thousand.  That  there  shoe  that 
you  see  there,  came  off  Gineral  George  Washing- 
ton's horse  just  afore  he  fought  the  great  battle 
of  Trenton.  My  grandfather  shod  him  anew 
himself,  and  kept  this  old  shoe.  The  forge  was 
right  here,  and  that  chimney-stack  was  part  of  it. 
That's  the  story,  Miss  Heath ;'  and  at  that  time 


162  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

your  great-grandfather,  old  Whitman  Obershaw, 
ran  a  saw-mill  just  along  by  the  head  of  the 
rapids,  ten  rods  beyond  the  foot-bridge,  and  I've 
heard  my  father  say  often  enough  that  the  old 
man  was  a  pretty  hard  case,  and  tight  about  half 
the  time." 

Edna,  though  nettled  and  confused  for  a  mo- 
ment at  these  free  reflections  on  her  maternal 
ancestor,  could  not  refrain  from  smiling  at 
the  » unconcerned  way  in  which  they  were  im- 
parted. 

"To  think  how  you've  grown  lately,  Miss 
Heath,"  continued  the  blunt  iron-master ;  "  why, 
it  seems  to  me  but  last  week  that  you  and  Ada 
Mumbie  and  Judge  Hull's  granddaughter,  were 
little  bits  of  things,  stopping,  as  you  came  from 
school  with  your  arms  full  of  books,  to  peep  in 
at  the  foundry,  half -scared,  with  your  eyes  as  big 
as  saucers.  "Well,  time  passes,  and  things  change, 
and  the  Works  are  different  now  from  what  they 
was  then.  We've  enlarged  them  considerable. 
Have  you  been  through  them  lately  ?  No — well, 
would  you  like  to  go  ?  Without  bragging  a  great 
deal,  I  don't  think  we  can  be  beat  much  in  our 
line  in  the  world."  George's  world,  by  the  bye, 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  163 

was  bounded  by  New  York  and  Trenton,  and 
consisted  chiefly  of  Belton. 

Edna  said  she  had  been  in  Mr.  Mumbie's  paper- 
mill,  and  had  been  much  interested,  and  thought 
she  would  like  to  see  the  Works,  if  convenient. 

The  establishment  was  a  model  one  of  its  kind. 
In  extent  and  completeness  it  had  no  superior,  if 
a  rival,  in  the  country,  and  the  owner  took  a  jus- 
tifiable pride  in  showing  it.  It  covered  several 
acres,  and  the  buildings  were  fine  ones  of  brick, 
with  slate  roofs,  and  some  pretensions  to  architect- 
ural beauty.  Gildersleeve  led  Edna  first  to  a 
detached  room  well  lighted,  neat,  and  quiet  as  a 
boudoir,  with  a  vine  trailing  over  the  glass  roof. 
This  was  the  engine-room,  where  tireless  monsters 
of  polished  steel  and  brass,  with  gigantic  fly- 
wheels and  darting  pistons,  worked  noiselessly 
and  exactly  as  a  chronometer,  and  enabled  the 
proprietor  to  be  consistently  independent  of  the 
water-power  if  he  chose. 

Then  they  went  to  the  foundry — a  fearful 
place,  where  begrimed  men,  hideous  in  the  glare 
of  furnace  flames,  ran  dragging  pots  of  molten 
iron  like  Cyclops,  while  the  ground  trembled 
beneath  the  titanic  blows  of  trip-hammers  ;  next 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

to  the  boiler-shop,  where  Edna  was  almost  deaf- 
ened; and  to  the  machine-shop,  a  long  room 
filled  with  whirling  shafts,  gearing,  and  lathes  in- 
numerable, where  she  was  greatly  amazed  at  the 
wonderful  planes  that  sliced  off  glossy  ribbons  of 
steel,  and  the  powerful  shears  and  punches  that 
cut  the  tough  metal  like  pasteboard.  Edna  was 
much  impressed  by  what  she  saw.  She  was 
struck  with  the  many  evidences  around  her  of 
human  skill  and  power.  The  admirable  adapta- 
tion and  complete  control  of  superhuman  forces 
seemed  to  her  sublime,  and  she  wondered  that 
the  presiding  genius  of  such  a  marvellous  palace 
of  art  could  be  the  ordinary  mortal  beside  her. 
Had  Edna  been  an  older  judge  of  human  nature, 
she  would  have  discovered  that  George  Gilder- 
sleeve  was  anything  but  an  ordinary  man.  True, 
he  was  uneducated,  rough,  overweeningly  vain, 
without  tact ;  his  fibre  coarse  and  vigorous  as  a 
buffalo's,  but  his  tenacity  of  will,  love  of  order, 
vigilance,  and  business  shrewdness  were  remark- 
able, and  capable  of  conquering  success  in  almost 
any  department  of  life.  His  vigilance  and  love 
of  order  had  not  escaped  Edna's  notice,  for  as 
they  went  along,  she  remarked  that  his  searching 


MAEK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  165 

glances  were  directed  everywhere,  and  she  was 
amused  to  see  him  pick  np  a  nail  from  the  floor, 
and  at  another  time  reprimand  an  apprentice  se- 
verely because  a  small  bit  of  cotton  waste  had 
been  left  on  the  bright  oil-cloth  of  the  engine- 
room. 

"  "Who  suggested  the  name  of  your  Works, 
Mr.  Gildersleeve  ? "  said  Edna. 

"  Oh !  that  was  Mark's  notion.  When  we  rebuilt 
them,  I  wanted  to  name  them  the  George  Wash- 
ington Works,  but  I  concluded  that  that  would 
be  too  personal,  so  I  let  Mark  have  his  own  way, 
and  he  named  them  after  Archy  Medes.  This 
Archy  Medes  was  an  engineer  of  ancient  times, 
who  discovered  something  in  a  bath-tub,  I  don't 
exactly  remember  what,  but  Mark  can  tell  you  if 
you  want  to  know.  There  he  is  over  there.  See 
him,  Miss  Heath?" 

They  were  in  the  finishing-shop  at  the  time, 
and  George  pointed  to  the  farther  end,  where 
Mark  was,  but  with  his  back  towards  them  so 
that  Edna  had  not  recognized  the  young  man. 
He  was  standing  with  his  coat  off  and  a  plan  in 
his  hand,  gi\7ing  directions  to  a  group  of  work- 
men. 


166  MLAKK   GILPERSLEEVE. 

"  He's  setting  up  an  improved  lathe  for  driv- 
ing wheels — a  new  idea  of  his  own,"  explained 
George. 

Edna  stood  watching  Mark.  He  was  very 
intently  occupied  moving  hither  and  thither, 
now  stooping  and  scrutinizing,  then,  with  rolled- 
up  sleeves,  dexterously  wielding  hammer  and 
chisel.  His  dark,  delicate  features  reflected  the 
keen  concentrated  play  of  the  faculties,  and  re- 
vealed an  expression  of  intellectual  beauty  that 
Edna  had  not  before  noticed.  She  thought  she 
had  never  seen  so  handsome  a  young  man. 
Mark  unconsciously  had  made  a  more  favorable 
impression  in  his  homely  guise  than  he  ever 
could  have  done  in  a  ball-room.  At  length  he 
perceived  her,  and  could  not  repress  a  look  of 
confusion.  Giving  a  few  orders  to  the  workmen, 
he  drew  on  his  coat  and  came  forward  to  meet 
Edna  with  an  embarrassed  air. 

"An  unexpected  pleasure,  Miss  Heath,"  he 
said,  with  a  feeble  attempt  to  be  distant  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  noble  resolves  he  had  recorded. 

"  The  pleasure  is  with  me,  I'm  certain,  for  I've 
been  ve"ry  much  delighted  and  instructed.  I 
know  all  about  locomotives,  and  steam,  and  boil- 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  167 

ers,  and  I  am  indebted  for  it  all  to  your  brother, 
who  was  kind  .enough  to  invite  me  to  see  the 
"Works,  and  explain  everything.  But  I  am  very 
much  afraid  that  I  have  interrupted  you." 

"  A  very  pleasant  interruption ;  for  it's  so  sel- 
dom we  are  favored  with  the  presence  of  ladies 
here,  that  we  appreciate  their  visits  correspondr 
ingly,"  replied  Mark  gallantly.  Her  pleasant, 
winning  way  had  disarmed  him  completely,  and 
he  was  at  her  mercy  at  once.  Edna  then  bid  the 
brothers  good-by,  remarking  that  she  had  tarried 
too  long  and  must  return  home. 

Of  course  Mark  begged  to  be  permitted  to  es- 
cort her,  as  evening  was  approaching,  to  which  re- 
quest she  graciously  assented.  The  most  attrac- 
tive trait,  perhaps,  in  our  heroine's  character  was 
her  frankness  of  speech  and  manner  proceeding 
from  a  nature  singularly  free  from  affectation. 
We  say  singularly,  as  it  is  well  known  that  the 
best  of  our  young  ladies  are  riot  entirely  exempt 
from  little  artificial  airs  and  graces  especially,  if 
like  the  subject  of  these  remarks,  they  occupy  a 
position  in  society  somewhat  analogous  to  that  of 
a  duke's  daughter  among  gentry.  This  artless- 
ness  was  the  more  remarkable  in  the  child  of  a 


1C8  MATTC   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

family  noted  for  its  intense  pride  and  pretensions. 
Edna  was  the  exception;  simple  in  her  tastes, 
and  ignoring  the  deference  conceded  to  wealth  to 
an  extent  that  would  have  amazed  her  father, 
could  he  have  spared  enough  attention  from  state 
affairs  to  study  his  daughter's  character.  Natu- 
rally, when  a  young  lady  of  position  remains  un- 
impressed by  people's  purses,  and  is  as  courteous 
to  the  poor  as  to  the  rich,  she  cannot  fail  to  be- 
come a  favorite  with  all ;  and  it  is  no  wonder  that 
the  master  of  the  Archimedes  Works  remarked  to 
Gregg,  the  old  book-keeper,  after  she  was  gone, 
that  if  he  were  a  young  man  seeking  a  wife,  she'd 
be  just  the  girl  he'd  pick  out,  and  that  Gregg  said 
she  would  be  his  choice  too ;  nor  that  Knatch- 
bull,  the  foreman,  concurred,  and  added,  that  she 
was  a  "  natty  lass,"  to  which  George  said,  "  That's 
so,  and  thorough-bred,"  and  told  Gregg  to  make  a 
minute  to  remind  him  to  send  one  of  his  "  carts," 
a  'three-quarter  face,  to  the  young  lady,  as  he  had 
promised,  and  wouldn't  disappoint  her  for  the 
world. 

Meanwhile  Mark  and  Edna  were  walking  on 
in  silence  towards  the  street  that  led  to  the  latter's 
home ;  Mark,  in  his  elation,  scarcely  knowing 


MARK  GILDERSLEEVE.  169 

how  to  broach  the  conversation.  Finally  he 
recollected  that  it  would  be  in  order  to  thank 
Edna  for  the  invitation  she  had  sent  him,  and  he 
did  so,  expressing  his  great  regret  at  not  having 
been  able  to  avail  himself  of  it,  and  his  apprecia- 
tion of  the  intended  compliment. 

"  I  think  you  would  have  enjoyed  yourself," 
said  Edna,  "  for  I  believe  they  all  did.  There 
were  quite  a  number  of  charming  young  ladies 
present.  Some  of  them,  I  think,  you  would  have 
been  pleased  to  meet." 
•  "  Name  them,  if  you  please  ? " 

"  Well — Miss  Carver,  from  Boston,  for  one ; 
pretty,  accomplished — " 

"  And  wealthy  ?  " 

"  Pray,  why  do  you  ask  such  a  question  ? " 

"  Is  not  that  the  supreme  attraction  ?  " 

"  What  a  sentiment  for  a  poet !  Do  you  know, 
Mr.  Gildersleevej  that  I  never  fail  to  read  your 
verses  in  the  Sentinel  f  "  . 

"  Do  you,  really  ?  You  are  a  true  friend,  in- 
deed, Miss  Heath,  to  sacrifice  yourself  to  that 
extent.  What  an  exertion  it  must  be  !  " 

"  Indeed,  I  think  some  of  them  very  nice. 
Mr.  Abbott,  who  prides  himself  on  his  literary 


170  MATTK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

taste,  endeavored  to  be  very  witty  criticising  some 
of  your  poetry,  but  Aunt  Susan — that's  Mrs. 
Applegate — Mercedita,  and  I  defended  you  with 
our  utmost  ability,  and  we  three  decided  that  it 
was  very  nice  indeed,"  said  Edna  earnestly. 

Mark  thought  that  "  very  nice  indeed  "  was  not 
exactly  the  verdict  he  craved,  nor  were  Aunt 
Susan  and  Mercedita  critics  whose  judgment 
would  likely  bias  public  opinion,  and  be  consid- 
ered final.  Edna's  good  opinion  was  certainly 
worth  having,  however ;  and  as  for  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Abbott's  attempts  at  facetiousness,  they  were 
undoubtedly  prompted  by  jealousy,  and  to  say  the 
least  of  it,  were  very  unbecoming  in  one  of  his 
profession,  and  a  disgrace  to  the  cloth. 

"  Mr.  Abbott,  though,  is  a  very  fine  reader," 
continued  Edna,  "  but  I  must  say  I  have  not  a 
very  great  opinion  of  his  taste.  Would  you  be- 
lieve it,  he  is  forever  reciting  '  Airy,  fairy  Lillian,' 
and  says  it's  the  finest  thing  Tennyson  ever 
wrote  ?  Now  I  think  it's  very  flat,  don't  you  ? " 

Mark  agreed  with  her,  and  said  it  was  very  fiat, 
very  flat  indeed.  She  certainly  has  taste,  thought 
he,  great  critical  acumen,  but  I  wish  she  wouldn't 
call  my  verses  nice. 


MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE.  171 

"  You  must  know,"  said  Edna,  who  talked  on 
unreservedly,  "  I'm  a  very  romantic  girl  in  spite 
of  my  matter-of-fact  way,  and  read  every  bit  of 
poetry  I  come  across.  In  saying  that  I  don't 
mean  to  disparage  your  productions,  for  as  I  said, 
I  think  some  of  them  real  nice  and  pretty.  It 
may  be  that  my  opinion  is  not  worth  much,  but 
one  piece  I  read  lately  struck  me  as  being  full  of 
beautiful  ideas  and  similes.  I  mean  those  lines 
addressed  to  '  Eunomia,'  the  '  violet-  engarlanded' 
person  in  '  purple  cincture,'  who,  '  enthroned  in 
the  propylon  of  the  temple  of  Fate,  sweeps  the 
lyre  with  skilful  plectrum.'  I  believe  that's  the 
image,  is  it  not  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  you  are  disposed  to  amuse  your- 
self by  ridiculing  my  poor  efforts,"  said  Mark,  puz- 
zled to  know  whether  she  were  in  earnest  or  not. 

"  Oh  dear  me,  no.  I  haven't  wit  enough  to  be 
ironical,  and  am  therefore  always  compelled  to 
be  downright  and  blunt.  Do  you  know,  too,  that 
my  ignorance  is  such  that  I  had  to  look  in  the 
dictionary  to  find  out  what  plectrum  and  propylon 
meant.  Do,  please,  the  next  time  you  use  such 
hard  words,  add  explanatory  notes  at  the  foot, 
and  oblige  all  such  unlearned  people  as  I." 


172  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

She  said  this  with  a  bantering  smile  that  again 
perplexed  Mark  and  set  him  reflecting.  Now 
the  shortest  way  to  the  Cliff  was  to  turn  off  at 
Mill  Street,  which  led  to  the  foot-bridge  over  the 
falls ;  but  when  they  came  to  the  corner  of  that 
street,  instead  of  turning  off  Edna  kept  on,  taking 
the  longer  way  home,  and  thus  prolonging  the 
walk,  from  which  circumstance  Mark  augured 
favorably.  At  least,  thought  he,  she  is  not  tired 
of  my  company  as  yet.  Their  promenade  took 
them  across  the  public  square,  a  pretentious  little 
triangle  "  of  grass-plats  inclosed  by  posts  and 
chains.  At  one  end  of  this  park  fronted  a  fine 
large  old  mansion,  whose  low  eaves,  broad  heavily- 
panelled  door,  and  ponderous  brass  knocker  de- 
noted work  of  the  last  century.  It  was  the 
homestead  of  the  Hull  family,  and  on  the  door- 
jambs  were  still  visible  hacks  made  by  the  sabres 
of  Knyphansen's  Hessians.  Mark  and  his  com- 
panion had  just  passed  the  house  when  the  old 
•  Judge  came  out  on  the  porch  to  look  at  the  ther- 
mometer hanging  by  the  side  of  his  door.  How 
could  he  fail  to  notice  the  youthful  couple  ?  Old 
as  he  was,  and  long  past  the  age  of  frivolity,  they 
interested  him,  and  he  stood  contemplating  the 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  173 

pair  until  they  were  out  of  his  sight.  As  he 
turned  to  reenter  the  house  Ke  gave  a  sigh  of  re- 
gret. How  barren  seemed  all  his  fame  and  hon- 
ors !  He  would  have  bartered  them  all  for  the 
return  of  one  hour  of  the  sweet  hallucinations  of 
youth  so  irrevocably  passed  away.  Meanwhile 
our  young  people  continued  their  discussion  on 
poetry  in  general,  and  Mark's  productions  in  par- 
ticular, until  the  young  man,  assuming  a  serious 
expression,  said,  "  You  were  speaking  about  the 
lines  to  Eunomia.  As  regards  the  spirit  or  in- 
tention in  which  they  are  composed,  I  must  cer- 
tainly be  credited  at  least  with  sincerity.  Every 
line,  every  thought  is  an  exponent  of  the  author's 
feelings.  They  may  be  awkward,  inelegant,  or 
halting,  but  the  words  are  nevertheless  the  earnest 
utterances  of  the  heart." 

All  this  was  said  fervently,  and  Edna  replied : 
"  I  haven't  any  doubt  of  it  at  all.  You  poets  all 
have  some  ideal  lady-love,  I  believe,  gifted  with 
every  possible  quality ;  some  ethereal  paragon 
whom  you  never  permit  to  touch  the  earth ;  con- 
sequently, I  presume  you  are  very  much  dissatis- 
fied with  young  ladies  as  you  find  them." 

"Permit  me  to   say  you  are  much  mistaken. 


174  MAEK   GIKDEESLEEVE. 

My  verses  were  addressed  to  no  imaginary  being. 
Eunomia  lives  and  breathes." 

"  Indeed !  why,  now  that  you  have  so  excited 
my  curiosity,  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  rest  satisfied 
until  I  learn  who  this  interesting  damsel  is — this 
purple-cinctured  Eunomia." 

"  I  can  gratify  you  in  that  respect  very  readily, 
if  you  wish  it." 

"  Well — but — I  wouldn't  for  the  world  be  indis- 
creet. If  it's  perfectly  permissible.  Otherwise, 
let  me  remain  in  ignorance,  please."  She  said 
this  hesitatingly,  as  if  perhaps  she  had  gone 
too  far ;  or  was  it  Mark's  admiring  gaze  that 
embarrassed  her?  For  the  young  man  seemed 
to  be  oblivious  of  all  but  the  being  beside 
him,  and  who  could  blame  him?  for  Edna, 
animated  by  the  walk  and  conversation,  looked 
more  beautiful  than  ever.  She  wore  a  round 
hat  wreathed  about  with  a  blue  veil  which 
contrasted  charmingly  with  her  fair  complexion, 
and  the  satin  sheen  of  her  lustrous  blonde  hair. 
Mark  watched  the  blithe  face,  and  endeavored  to 
analyze,  and  impress  its  beauty  indelibly  on  his 
memory.  What  charmed  him  most  was  the  vir- 
ginal grace  of  lips  and  chin,  the  pure  cheek,  and 


MABK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  175 

the  exquisite  contour  of  the  slender  white  throat. 
So  absorbed  was  he  in  his  admiration,  that  the 
promenade  seemed  to  him  incredibly  short,  in 
spite  of  the  circuit  they  had  made,  for  the  en- 
trance to  Mr.  Heath's  residence  was  now  near  at 
hand.  It  was  time  to  part.  "  I  am  hesitating," 
said  he,  "whether  to  reveal — if  you  will  not 
think  me  presumptuous — after  all,  no  one  is 
better  entitled  to  know  the  name  of  the  one  ad- 
dressed as  'Eunomia,'  than  you." 

"  No  one  better  entitled  to  know  than  I  ? "  re- 
peated Edna,  as  a  sudden  enlightenment  suffused 
her  face  with  a  blush. 

"No  one;  for  Eunomia  is  but  another  name 
for  Edna.  Forgive  me,  if  in  seeking  for  inspira- 
tion from  your  beauty  and  goodness,  I  have  been 
too  bold  in  my  admiration ;  but  Edna,"  he 
added,  taking  her  hand  and  gazing  at  her  with 
appealing  ardor,  "  I  have  loved  you  so  long  and 
earnestly ! " 

She  lowered  her  eyes  at  this  declaration,  but 
her  hand  lingered  in  his.  There  was  nobody- 
near;  he  pressed  her  hand  gently  to  his  lips, 
when  she  quickly  withdrew  it,  and  with  a  bow, 
disappeared  through  the  gateway.  Mark  stood 


176  MAKK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

for  a  moment  as  if  amazed  at  his  audacity, 
and  then,  joyful  and  happy,  walked  away  as  if 
treading  on  air,  bewitched  by  the  delightful  an- 
ticipations of  newly  implanted  hope.  Sweet 
anticipation !  How  full  art  thoti  of  brilliant 
illusions  and  blissful  glamour !  And  yet,  without 
thee,  what  an  insupportable  burden  would  life 
become !  Precious  Jack-o'-lantern,  that  transports 
the  lover,  nerves  the  warrior,  cheers  the  student, 
and  inspires  poet  and  painter  1 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  177 


"  BET  you  hundred  to  eighty — hundred  dollars 
to  eighty — eighty — old  man's  'lected !  "  were  Jack 
Heath's  exclamations,  as  he  stood  rather  unstead- 
ily in  the  bar-room  of  the  Obershaw  House, 
thumping  his  fist  on  the  counter.  It  was  the 
night  before  election  day,  and  of  course  the  bar- 
room of  the  Obershaw  House,  the  headquarters 
of  Mr.  Heath's  party,  was  thronged  with  politi- 
cians and  loungers,  drinking,  smoking,  and  dis- 
cussing the  chances  of  the  candidates  for  office ; 
for  we  should  state  that  the  Hon.  Rufus  Heath 
had  succeeded  in  his  efforts  to  obtain  the  nomi- 
nation for  the  governorship,  as  the  numerous 
posters  on  the  dead  walls  of  Belton,  headed 
"CONSERVATIVE  UNION  NOMINATIONS,"  staringly 
announced. 

Jack  Heath  had  been  for  a  week  on  what  he 
called  a  "tare,"  and  had  but  just  "  brought  up" 
at  the  hotel.  He  was  still  a  little  "  sprung,"  as 

the  bar-tender  qualified  it,  but  had  an  eye  to  bus- 

8* 


178  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

iness  nevertheless,  as  he  seemed  anxious  to  secure 
bets  on  his  father's  election.  "A  hundred  to 
eighty — bet  any  man  hundred  to  eighty  old  man's 
'lecfced.  Come,  I'll  make  it  hundred  to  fifty — 
fifty,  who'll  take  that  ? " 

"I  will — just  for  a  flyer,"  responded  a  short 
red-whiskered  man,  who  kept  a  livery  stable  in 
the  town ;  "  I'll  take  it," 

"Put  up  the  ducats,  Hank — put  'em  up! 
Here,  Bangs,  old  fel,  hold  stakes,  will  you? 
All  right — hundred  to  fifty  more !  Who's  next 
man  ? " 

"  Here  you  are,"  said  another  individual. 
"  Going  to  vote  for  the  old  man  too,  but  I'll  take 
your  offer  for  the  fun  o'  the  thing." 

Jack  fumbled  away  at  his  pocket-book,  draw- 
ing out  the  bank-notes  and  laying  them  in  Bangs 
the  landlord's  hand  with  drunken  solemnity  and 
slowness.  He  found  no  lack  of  takers,  and  soon 
stripped  himself  of  money  to  back  his  father's 
chances.  Then  a  little  contention  arose  about 
the  count,  and  Jack  indulged  in  a  good  deal  of 
abuse  and  swearing.  However,  the  party  being 
in  good  humor,  coaxed  him,  and  vowed  he  was 
the  best  fellow  alive ;  so  Jack,  mollified,  ordered 


MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE.  179 

a  basket  of  champagne  to  be  opened,  and  "  Here's 
to  our  next  Governor,  Ruf  us  Heath ! "  was 
drunk  with  three  times  three  and  a  "  tiger." 
Then  Jack,  a  little  more  inebriated,  withdrew  to 
play  billiards,  at  which  game  he  was  an  adept, 
and  in  spite  of  his  condition  he  made  some  excel- 
lent caroms,  better  than  many  sober  players  could 
achieve  ;  but  he  also  missed  some  easy  shots,  and 
his  anger  rising  at  that,  he  dashed  his  cue  savage- 
ly at  the  table,  ripping  up  the  green  cloth  so  that 
Bangs  had  it  down  on  the  bill  against  him  in  no 
time.  Then  Jack  ordered  more  wine,  telling 
Bangs  to  charge  it  to  the  old  man's  account  for 
"  'lection  spenshes,"  and  again  the  company  were 
called  upon  to  toast  the  future  Governor  of  the 
"  Jersey  Blues,"  which  they  did  vociferously. 

Now  Jack,  pulling  out  his  watch,  stared  at  it 
stupidly  for  some  time,  until  a  dim  notion  coming 
to  him  that  he  was  too  tipsy  to  discriminate  be- 
tween the  hands,  he  requested  somebody  to  tell 
him  the  time.  "  Pas'  twelve,  eh  ?  'Time  I  was 
home — mus'  go  home  early — got  work  to  do  to- 
morrow morning — old  man's  lection  day." 

"Better  stay  here  to-night,  Mr.  Heath,"  said 
the  hotel-keeper,  who  was  familiar  with  Jack's 


180  MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

habits.  "  We'll  take  good  care  of  you.  I've  got  a 
nice  room  all  ready  and  comfortable  for  yon,  and 
you'll  be  fresh  and  fine  for  to-morrow's  work." 

"All  right,  Tommy  Bangs,  old  fel.  Let's 
have  night-caps  all  round  'fore  we  turns  in,  eh  ? 
Whiskey-skins,  Bangsey.  Stiff,  and  not  too  sweet. 
Charge  old  man  'lection  spenshes." 

The  whiskey-skins  being  disposed  of,  Mr.  Bangs 
and  his  bar-tender  led  Jack  tenderly  up  the 
stairs,  and  put  him  away  comfortably  to  bed. 

About  the  time  he  awoke  the  next  morning  the 
election  was  in  full  blast.  The  population  were 
entirely  given  over  to  the  business,  and  Belton 
was  emblazoned  with  multi-colored  placards,  call- 
ing upon  the  citizens  to  "  awake,"  to  "  arouse," 
and  above  all  to  "  rally."  Wagons  decorated  with 
long  muslin  strips  bearing  the  name  of  a  promi- 
nent candidate,  and  some  watchword  of  uncertain 
application,  such  as  "  'No  monopoly,"  "  Working- 
men's  Rights,"  and  the  like,  were  driven  about 
gathering  voters,  who  were  stimulated  to  exercise 
the  right  of  suffrage  in  the  right  direction  by  the 
stirring  notes  of  a  fish-horn,  blown  by  an  active 
partisan  alongside  of  the  driver. 

The  polls  were  surrounded  by  a  motley  crowd 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  181 

of  fellow-citizens,  who  beset  the  wayfarer  with 
importunities  to  vote  for  this  or  that  candidate  ; 
and  as  each  wagon  drove  up  and  deposited  its 
load  of  voters  the  new-comers  were  received  with 
hurrahs  and  friendly  hustlings.  The  master  of 
the  Archimedes  Works  was  conspicuous  and  ubi- 
quitous, shouldering  his  burly  frame  through  the 
thickest  crowds,  jeering  his  opponents,  joking  with 
his  friends,  and  airing  his  wallet  on  the  slight- 
est provocation.  Jack  Heath,  owing  to  his  ex- 
ertions on  the  previous  evening,  did  not  make  his 
appearance  on  the  scene  of  action  until  mid-day, 
but  his  presence  infused  new  vigor  in  the  contest. 
A  crowd  of  henchmen  were  at  his  heels,  and  the 
bar  of  the  Obershaw  House  dispensed  strong 
waters  and  tobacco,  galore  and  gratuitous,  to  all 
the  supporters  of  the  "  Heath  ticket "  who  chose 
to  partake.  And  as  many  so  chose,  the  bar-tender 
and  his  assistants  had  their  hands  full,  you  may 
depend,  for  the  thirst  of  people  who  appease  it  at 
another's  expense  is  sufficient  to  appall  the  stout- 
est stomach. 

As  the  day  waned,  the  fellow-citizens  merry 
with  potations  deep  disported  themselves  with 
antics  gay.  Individuals  were  bonneted  ;  ballots, 


182  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

those  executors  of  the  freeman's  will,  were  scat- 
tered to  the  winds ;  and  the  ticket-distributors  who 
were  unlucky  enough  to  be  caught  in  their  boxes 
found  themselves  suddenly  in  a  topsy-turvy  posi- 
tion, heels  in  the  air,  and  kicking  wildly  to  extri- 
cate themselves,  to  the  intense  enjoyment  of  the 
hilarious  and  playful  electors.  At  sunset  the 
polls  closed,  and  the  citizens  who  had  rallied  so 
nobly  repaired  to  their  homes,  with  the  exception 
of  some  zealous  politicians  who  remained  to  learn 
the  result  of  the  voting.  The  bar-rooms  were 
still  tumultuous  with  the  wrangling  of  excited 
partisans,  and  Jack  Heath  lorded  it  at  the 
Obershaw  House,  but  he  soon  succumbed 
to  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  and  was  kindly 
put  to  bed  by  considerate  Mr.  Bangs  at  an 
early  hour. 

The  Hon.  Ruf  us  Heath  remained  at  home  dur- 
ing the  eventful  day.  He  had  no  doubt  as  to  the 
result  of  the  election,  and  felt  certain  that  he 
would  carry  it.  Candidates  always  feel  so.  The 
amazing  self-conceit  that  induces  every  ticket- 
holder  in  a  lottery  to  expect  a  prize  would  per- 
mit no  other  supposition  than  one  of  success. 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  183 

Still,  being  a  cautious  man,  he  was  anxious  to  have 
his  belief  corroborated.  Meanwhile  so  confident 
was  he  of  the  issue,  that  he  employed  himself  in 
preparing  a  draught  of  his  inaugural  address,  and 
revolving  in  his  mind  a  proper  disposition  of  his 
affairs  preparatory  to  a  removal  of  his  home  to 
the  capital  of  the  State.  He  anticipated,  too,  no 
little  gratification  in  teaching  his  opponent  a  les- 
son, for  he  deemed  it  no  less  than  a  piece  of  im- 
pertinence that  an  obscure  village  lawyer,  who 
had  acquired  some  cheap  fame  by  vulgar  appeals 
as  a  stump  speaker,  should  presume  to  cross 
swords  with  him  in  a  contest  for  position.  At 
length  night  came,  and  towards  ten  o'clock  a  mes- 
senger brought  various  returns  that  had  been  an- 
nounced, almost  all  indicating  majorities  in  his 
favor.  He  went  to  bed,  but  found  it  difficult  to 
court  slumber  with  such  a  stake  still  weighing  in 
the  balance.  The  next  morning  he  became  rather 
uneasy  as  the  minutes  passed  and  no  friend  came 
to  congratulate  him  on  the  result.  Mumbie,  he  cer- 
tainly expected  would  have  been  on  hand  betimes. 
The  newspaper,  too,  did  not  arrive  at  the  usual 
hour,  delayed  probably  to  give  the  latest  results 
of  the  canvassing.  At  length  it  came,  and  he  saw 


184  MAKE   GILDERSLEEVE. 

at  a  glance  from  the  returns  of  certain  decisive 
counties  that  he  was  defeated. 

The  editor  endeavored  to  depreciate  the  impor- 
tance of  these  indications  by  stating  that  the  final 
result  was  still  in  doubt ;  that  later  news  might 
alter  the  complexion  of  things,  etc.  But  Mr.  Heath 
was  not  to  be  deluded  by  such  assertions,  and  was 
convinced  that  he  and  his  party  had  lost.  As 
the  first  check  in  a  career  of  uninterrupted  pros- 
perity, it  proved  a  bitter  disappointment ;  so  bitter, 
that  he  lost  his  temper — an  unusual  occurrence 
for  him— swore  at  James  for  some  trivial  offence, 
snarled  at  Mrs.  Applegate,  and  snubbed  poor 
Mumbie,  who  had  come  rather  blunderingly 
to  sympathize  with  him.  To  one  unaccustomed 
to  obstacles  and  reverses  they  come  with  double 
severity,  and  Mr.  Heath  took  his  defeat  deeply  to 
heart.  Friends,  to  be  sure,  proffered  condolen- 
ces, advising  him  to  try  again ;  that  in  the  next 
attempt  he  would  certainly  be  successful,  etc., 
etc. ;  but  a  sense  of  discouragement  had  taken 
possession  of  him  which  no  sympathy  or  counsel 
could  remove.  Probably  the  bitterest  pill  to 
swallow  was  the  discovery  that  his  own  county 
and  town  had  given  a  large  majority  against  him. 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  185 

lie  was  much  surprised  at  this,  being  utterly  un- 
conscious of  his  personal  unpopularity.  Small 
comfort  he  got  too  from  George  Gildersleeve,  who 
never  spared  a  beaten  adversary,  and  griping 
the  patrician's  hand  when  he  met  him  a  few  days 
after,  bade  him  be  of  good  cheer  in  such  words 
as  these :  "  Sorry  for  you,  Heath,  but  it  couldn't 
be  helped.  I  could  have  told  you  how  it  would 
be.  Too  much  of  the  old  Democratic  leaven 
about  here.  This  county  cooked  your  mutton,  and 
I  carry  it  in  my  breeches  pocket.  Liked  to  have 
helped  you — you're  an  old  friend ;  but  you  can't 
expect  us  to  desert  our  life-long  principles,  scratch 
our  ticket,  and  go  for  outsiders  when  the  woolly- 
heads  are  getting  so  rampant.  There  is  no  safety 
in  these  times  but  sticking  to  the  old  ship.  But 
I  wouldn't  be  down  in  the  mouth  about  it.  If 
you'll  only  come  round  to  our  side  of  the  house, 
I'll  engage  to  send  a  good-looking  man  of  about 
your  size  to  Trenton  or  Washington.  You  ought 
to  be  there ;  you've  got  the  brains,  and  have  for- 
gotten more  than  half  those  fellers  ever  knew; 
but  you  ain't  the  right  stripe,  that's  the  trouble, 
and  you're  on  the  wrong  track." 

Mr.  Heath  endeavored  to  take  this  advice  good- 


186  MAKE   GILDERSLEEVE. 

humoredly,  and  attempted  a  smile  at  the  blunt 
sallies;  but  the  smile  was  a  forced  one,  or  a 
"  yellow  laugh,"  as  the  French  express  it. 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  187 


XI. 

IT  was  long  past  midnight,  and  between  the 
small  hours  that  usher  in  the  light  of  a  new  day, 
when  the  stillness  of  the  mansion  on  the  cliff  was 
broken  by  a  piercing  shriek.  It  was  an  appalling 
cry  of  distress  that  awoke  the  slumberers  and 
froze  the  timid  ones  to  their  couches  with  fear. 
Mr.  Heath  sprang  from  his  bed,  and  ran  pre- 
cipitately to  his  daughter-in-law's  apartment, 
whence  the  cry  proceeded.  Poor  Mercedita  met 
him  at  the  door  in  her  night-dress,  and  in  answer 
to  his  inquiries  pointed  in  speechless  horror  at 
the  floor  of  her  dressing-room,  where  lay  stiff 
and  stark  the  body  of  her  husband  ! 

Jack  Heath  had  come  home  the  previous  night 
for  the  first  time  since  his  fortnight's  debauch. 
He  was  in  a  shocking  condition,  with  filthy 
clothes,  and  a  bad  bruise  over  one  eye,  resulting, 
doubtless,  from  a  fall.  His  wife,  incensed  at  his 
conduct,  refused  to  speak  or  notice  him;  and 
Jack,  still  tipsily  stupid,  threw  himself  on  a 


188  MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

lounge  in  the  dressing-room  to  sleep.  During 
the  night  he  awoke  ;  tormented  by  the  "  horrors," 
and  thirsting  for  some  stimulating  liquid,  he 
seized  a  crystal  flask  of  cologne  that  lay  on  the 
toilet-table,  and  drank  it  to  appease  the  infernal 
craving  that  possessed  him.  The  congested  con- 
dition of  his  brain,  super-excited  by  this  fiery 
draught,  induced  apoplexy,  and  the  stroke  was 
fatal.  His  wife,  asleep  in  the  adjoining  room, 
awoke  soon  after,  and  not  hearing  his  usual 
heavy  breathing,  was  much  surprised.  She  ima- 
gined he  must  have  left  the  room,  and  after 
waiting  awhile,  arose  from  her  bed,  went  into 
the  dressing-room,  where  there  was  a  dim  light 
burning,  and  found  that  he  had  fallen  from  the 
lounge  and  lay  on  the  floor.  She  shook  him 
without  effect ;  raised  his  arm — it  fell  rigidly. 
She  tried  to  arouse  him,  called  him  loudly,  but 
the  dull  ear  heard  not,  for  the  sleep  that  bound 
him  knew  no  waking;  and  then,  as  the  truth 
flashed  on  her,  with  a  shriek  she  summoned  the 
household.  They  led  her  away,  agitated,  proba- 
bly, more  by  terror  than  grief,  but  Mr.  Heath 
remained  gazing  at  the  corpse  of  his  only  son. 
What  a  spectacle  to  meet  a  father's  eye  was  this 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE.  189 

inert  bulk,  repulsive  with  the  stigmas  of  dissipa- 
tion fresh  upon  it !  In  the  middle  ages  the  heir 
of  the  house  fell  in  battle,  killed  perhaps  by  the 
shot  of  an  arquebuse  or  the  blow  of  a  partisan ; 

• 

or  he  met  his  death  in  some  midnight  encounter, 
and  was  brought  home  with  a  brok«n  rapier  and 
doublet  dripping  with  blood — there  is  romance 
in  that.  But  now  he  falls  a  victim  to  the  bottle, 
and  furnishes  but  a  vulgar  theme.  Nevertheless 
the  drama  is  none  the  less  real.  Mr.  Heath's 
contemplation  was  sad,  but  full  of  worldly  reason- 
ing. The  curse  of  unearned  wealth,  he  mused, 
has  fallen  on  my  son.  Had  he  been  the  child  of 
a  bricklayer  or  born  to*  labor,  he  would  have 
been  alive  now ;  or  had  not  the  blood  of  the 
Obershaws  with  its  coarse  appetites,  predom- 
inated, he  might  have  been  an  honor  to  me. 
Unmoved  remained  Mr.  Heath  as  he  philosophized 
thus,  until  the  sight  of  his  daughter's  emotion,  as 
she  covered  her  dead  brother's  face  with  tears 
and  kisses,  stirred  the  parent  within  him,  and  his 
eyes  clouded  and  cold  features  relaxed. 

****** 
****** 
****** 


190  MAI;K  GILDERSLEEVE. 

Another  funeral,  another  solemn  procession  to 
the  tolling  of  the  bell  of  St.  Jude's,  and  the  body 
of  John  Peter  Heath  was  laid  beside  that  of  his 
grandsire  in  the  family  vault,  in  the  jard  of  the 
little  church. 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  191 


XII. 

Six  months  passed  away. 

The  young  widow  had  left  Belton,  which  had 
never  possessed  any  charms  for  her,  to  visit  her 
maternal  relatives  in  the  island  of  Cuba.  It  was 
doubtless  a  relief,  as  she  had  never  known  any 
happiness  during  her  wedded  life.  Her  depart- 
ure increased  the  sense  of  loneliness  that  pervaded 
her  former  home,  for  it  now  seemed  enveloped 
in  an  atmosphere  of  gloom.  Mr.  Heath  was  rigid 
in  all  the  observances  of  mourning.  The  en- 
trance gates  to  his  grounds,  which  were  formerly 
always  kept  hospitably  wide  open,  were  now  as 
constantly  closed,  and  the  domestics  wore  black. 
As  for  Mr.  Heath,  he  had  lapsed  into  a  singular 
state  of  taciturnity,  and  sought  seclusion.  It  was 
evident  that  he  no  longer  possessed  the  energetic 
and  elastic  spirit  of  his  younger  days.  Then 
disappointment  would  have  spurred  him  to  in- 
creased exertion,  but  now  the  repeated  blows 
dealt  at  him  by  destiny  and  the  approach  of  old 


192  MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE. 

age,  though  hardly  perceptible  in  his  still  erect 
and  vigorous  frame,  were  telling  on  the  springs 
of  action. 

There  are  periods  in  a  man's  existence  when  he 
pauses  to  review  his  life.  It  is  true  such  periods 
rarely  occur  to  the  slaves  of  vice,  or  to  those  un- 
der the  dominion  of  a  ruling  passion,  and  perhaps 
never  to  the  robust  individual  of  limited  ideas  to 
whom  the  mere  act  of  existing  is  a  pleasure ;  but 
they  come  repeatedly  to  the  free  intellect,  perhaps 
at  the  very  instant  of  realization  of  some  long 
toiled-for  or  expected  success,  or  at  the  moment 
of  disappointment,  to  ask  it  what  it  is  living  for, 
and  whither  it  tends  ?  Such  questions  never  en- 
ter the  head  of  men  like  old  John  Peter  Ober- 
shaw,  nor  disturb  the  tough  self-satisfaction  of 
those  like  George  Gildersleeve ;  but  the  texture  of 
Mr.  Heath's  mind,  when  at  rest,  was  impression- 
able, and  its  subtle  energy  liable  to  relax  and 
weaken.  "We  have  related  how  he  succumbed  to 
despondency  on  his  succession  to  the  immense 
wealth  of  his  father-in-law,  and  although  this 
feeling  was  soon  shaken  off  and  banished  in  the 
pursuit  of  ambitious  projects,  it  now  returned  as 
the  blight  on  his  ambition,  and  death  of  his  only 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  193 

son  pressed  the  iron  through  a  heart  enamelled 
by  worldliness.  As  time  wore  on,  his  sorrow,  in- 
stead of  diminishing,  seemed  to  increase,  and  an 
expression  of  deep  chagrin  settled  permanently 
on  his  countenance.  He  apparently  lost  all  in- 
terest in  his  great  work,  the  "  Federal  Code,"  and 
the  secretary  who  had  assisted  him  in  its  prepara- 
tion was  dismissed.  He  seldom  left  the  house 
now,  spending  his  time  chiefly  in  the  library  en- 
gaged in  meditation,  or  in  the  occasional  perusal 
of  a  chapter  of  Jeremy  Taylor  or  some  other 
standard  theological  work.  He  even  seemed  to 
shun  his  family,  and  ceased  to  manifest  interest 
in  his  daughter.  Edna,  quick  to  discern  this 
change  in  her  father's  habits,  attributed  it  solely 
to  the  death  of  her  brother,  and  dreading  the  ef- 
fects of  prolonged  grief,  strove  with  the  assistance 
of  her  aunt  to  divert  his  mind ;  but  to  little  pur- 
pose. Each  time  that  they  tried  to  interest  him 
in  household  matters,  or  to  enliven  him,  they  met 
with  a  rebuff.  Even  Mr.  Abbott,  who  endeavored 
to  bring  balm  and  consolation,  found  his  counsel 
unacceptable,  and  the  worthy  young  minister  did 
not  repeat  the  attempt.  In  short,  the  man  of 
even  temper,  the  polished  gentleman,  was  becom- 


194  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

ing  irascible,  and  it  was  a  relief  to  the  family  to 
learn  one  morning  that  Mr.  Heath,  to  improve  his 
health  and  divert  his  mind,  or  for  some  other  un- 
explained reason,  had  determined  to  set  off  on  a 
journey. 

Edna,  too,  had  certain  perturbations  of  mind 
and  heart  to  contend  with — ideas  and  reflections 
that  would  obtrude  upon  her,  and  that,  although 
temporarily  banished  during  the  period  of  mourn- 
ing, reappeared  with  greater  frequency  when  her 
sorrow  became  assuaged.  These  thoughts  dated 
from  the  time  of  her  meeting  with  Mark  Gilder- 
sleeve,  when  he  avowed  she  inspired  his  poetic 
flights.  In  her  simple  estimation,  his  verses  were 
productions  of  merit  and  beauty ;  and  there  was 
something  extremely  pleasing  in  the  thought  of 
having  long  been  the  object  of  the  hidden  admi- 
ration and  laudation  of  a  young  man  gifted  with 
such  talent,  and  splendid  eyes.  Fred  Spooner,  to 
be  sure,  was  taller  and  had  red  cheeks,  but  then 
Fred's  knowledge,  although  a  Harvard  under- 
graduate, did  not  seem  to  transcend  dogs.  He 
could  entertain  her  only  with  the  exploits  of  his 
bull-terrier  Spot  among  the  rats,  or  discuss  the 


MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE.  195 

beauties  of  his  diminutive  black-and-tan  Spark ; 
while  Mark  knew  ever  so  many  things,  could 
quote  Tennyson  or  Browning  as  readily  as  Mr. 
Abbott,  could  work  a  steam-engine,  and  sang 
superbly ;  while  all  Fred  Spooner  could  do  in  that 
way  was  to  roar,  sadly  out  of  tune,  the  touching 
lay  of  "The  Lone  Fish-ball,"  or  "Shool."  Per- 
haps Mark  might  become,  in  time,  as  celebrated 
as  Dante  or  Petrarch,  and  she  would  be  immor- 
talized like  Beatrice  and  Laura.  Edna  could  not 
help  dwelling  on  the  flattering  idea,  until  it  took 
root  in  her  gentle  heart.  In  short,  Miss  Heath 
was  fast  drifting  into  love,  and  not  a  little  sur- 
prised to  find  how  constantly  her  thoughts  would 
revert  to  the  young  engineer,  in  spite  of  her  ex- 
ertions to  employ  them  otherwise.  Perhaps, 
these  exertions  were  not  very  strenuous,  for  the 
girl  was  of  an  unsophisticated  nature,  and  not 
disposed  to  be  rebellious ;  hence  she  yielded  to  her 
inclinations  more  readily  than  the  circumspect 
daughter  of  a  rigid  precept-inculcating  mamma. 

At  this  time  the  gigantic  conspiracy  of  the 
Secessionists  culminated,  and  the  demon  of  Civil 
"War,  that  Mr.  Heath  and  his  conservative  coadju- 


196  M4RK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

tors  had  vainly  attempted  to  exorcise,  bristled  his 
angry  crest.  One  morning  the  portentous  news 
came  that  the  first  hostile  shot  had  been  fired  by 
the  South.  Instantly,  the  faithful  in  all  parts  of 
the  North  sprang  to  arms  to  avenge  the  insult 
offered  to  the  glorious  old  standard  of  the  nation. 
Peaceful  Belton  partook  of  the  patriotic  ardor, 
and  manifested  its  loyalty  by  a  profuse  display 
of  bunting.  Party  differences  were  forgotten, 
and  Republicans  and  Democrats,  Free-soilers  and 
Conservatives,  native  and  foreign-born  citizens,  all 
joined  in  protesting  their  devotion  to  the  Union, 
and  their  determination  to  defend  it  to  the  last. 
George  Gildersleeve,  who,  moved  by  his  antipa- 
thy to  the  abolitionists,  had  been  inclined  to  exr 
cuse  the  threats  of  the  Southerners,  now  turned 
against  them,  and  came  out  wonderfully  strong 
for  the  Union,  accompanying  his  loyal  protes- 
tations with  frequent  allusions  to  the  immortal 
"Washington,  and  the  patriotic  services  of  his 
grandsire  in  the  horse-shoeing  line;  in  testi- 
mony whereof  the  Archimedes  "Works  flaunted 
a  starry  banner  of  magnificent  dimensions.  A 
mass-meeting  of  the  citizens  to  take  measures  to- 
wards the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  was  at  once 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  197 

held  in  the  public  square.  This  square  was  the 
pnyx  or  forum  of  the  Beltonians.  In  the  centre 
a  Phrygian  cap  was  borne  skyward  by  a  tall 
liberty-pole,  whose  base  was  defended  by  a  rusty 
old  carronade,  which  was  popularly  supposed  to 
have  done  wonders  in  freedom's  cause  during  the 
trying  days  of  Seventy-six,  and  was  venerated 
accordingly ;  the  probability  being  that  it  had 
never  inflicted  other  damage  than  scorching 
some  of  the  amateur  artillerists,  \vlio  every  Fourth 
of  July  put  the  superannuated  piece  to  use  in 
-firing  salutes.  At  the  meeting,  though,  it  formed 
an  appropriate  buttress  to  the  temporary  stand 
erected  for  the  orators,  and  gave  a  stern  dignity 
to  the  occasion.  In  the  absence  of  Judge  Hull 
and  Mr.  Heath,  who  were  both  away  from  home, 
George  Gildersleeve  was  called  upon  to  preside ; 
but  fluent  as  honest  George  was  in  a  caucus  or 
sidewalk  harangue,  he  lost  his  tongue  on  the 
rostrum,  where  he  prefigured  too  closely  his 
boasted  porcine  model  of  independence,  and 
hence  was  forced  to  decline  the  proffered  honor. 
Mr.  Mumbie  was  then  pitched  upon  as  a  proper 
figure-head,  but  he  also  declined,  having  the  fear 
of  Mrs.  Mumbie,  whose  sympathies  were  with 


198  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

I 

the  South,  before  his  eyes.  At  length  a  chair- 
man was  found  in  Mr.  Poplin,  the  owner  of  the 
silk-mill,  and  the  meeting  proceeded  with  spirit. 
Stirring  addresses  were  made — a  deal  of  enthu- 
siasm evoked,  and  a  string  of  resolutions  passed 
unanimously.  The  practical  result  was  the  deci- 
sion to  organize  without  delay  a  "  Home  Guard," 
and  George  was  appointed  captain  of  the  first 
company.  Yague  apprehensions  were  afloat 
among  the  staid  denizens  that  Beauregard  and 
the  South  Carolinians  might  invade  Belton,  and 
the  patersf amilias  of  the  town  had  made  up  their 
minds  not  to  be  caught  unprepared,  but  to  be 
ready  to  strike  doughtily  for  their  altars  and  fire- 
sides at  a  moment's  notice.  So  in  less  than 
twenty-four  hours,  fifty-three  good  and  true  men 
were  enrolled  in  this  formidable  legion,  and  com- 
mittees appointed  to  procure  arms  and  uniforms. 
Considerable  agitation  was  manifested  over  the 
selection  of  the  latter.  By  virtue  of  his  calling, 
Mr.  Muldoon,  a  tailor,  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  uniforms,  and  moved  probably  by  per- 
sonal predilections,  reported  on  "  grane  "  as  the 
most  appropriate  color ;  from  which  Snopple, 
the  minority,  dissented,  and  recommended,  with 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  199 

an  eye  to  the  picturesque,  the  old  Continental 
blue  and  buff,  with  a  cavalier  hat.  But  this 
recommendation  was  not  acted  upon,  the  sug- 
gested costume  being  voted  unsuitable  for  "  hard 
service,"  and  as  the  Guards  intended  adopt- 
ing the  rifle  as  their  weapon,  Mr.  Muldoon's 
"grane"  carried  the  day,  with  red  seams  and  yel- 
low facings,  however,  in  deference  to  the  aesthetic 
feelings  of  the  wily  Suopple,  who  foresaw  an  in- 
crease of  patronage  growing  out  of  this  investiture. 
Among  the  junior  members  of  the  community, 
the  warlike  spirit  rose  equally  high,  but  took  a 
different  direction.  Of  them  all,  none  was  more 
deeply  stirred  by  the  electric  current  of  patriot- 
ism than  Mark.  From  the  outbreak  of  the  con- 
flict, his  blood  tingled  to  join  in  the  fray.  He 
flung  aside  all  other  occupations,  and  threw  his 
whole  soul  into  the  popular  cause.  Let  us  con- 
fess, though,  that  he  was  not  purely  unselfish  in 
his  eagerness,  for  he  foresaw  a  new  avenue  to 
fame,  and  one  where  the  goal  was  more  accessi- 
ble to  a  determined  mind  than  in  the  path  he 
was  pursuing.  As  a  poet,  mediocrity  at  the  ut- 
fmost  was  all,  he  was  forced  to  admit,  that  he 
could  ever  hope  for.  But  in  war,  what  was  there 


200  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

beyond  the  reach  of  a  stout  heart  and  true  blade  ? 
lie  felt  brave  enough  to  cast  his  life  in  the  scale 
if  need  be,  and  stake  it  for  renown.  Glory  is  a 
tempting  bait  for  hot-heads  and  enthusiastic  nat- 
ures, and  its  sway  over  Mark  was  irresistible. 
Beyond  glory,  too,  there  was  a  sweeter,  dearer  re- 
ward that  he  might  win.  A  guerdon  fit  to  nerve 
even  a  craven  to  prowess. 

"  By  cock  and  pie  and  mousefoot !  my  lad, 
but  this  is  serious,"  quoth  Dr.  "Wattletop,  when 
Mark  imparted  his  intention  of  turning  soldier. 
"  Fired  by  bellicose  ardor,  we  burn  to  seize  the 
anlace  and  cry  havoc,  eh  ?  Nonsense,"  was  the 
commentary  that  followed.  "Believe  me,  my 
boy,  stick  to  your  innocent  amusements.  Per- 
mute the  syllables  of  our  noble  tongue  into  new 
and  strange  rhythmical  combinations  as  much  as 
you  please,  but  seek  not  the  bubble  reputation 
by  checking  musket-balls  in  their  mad  career. 
Stick  to  the  shop,  Mark,  to  itrochoidal  paths  and 
spheric  sectors.  l  Honor,  indeed,  who  hath  it  ? 
He  that  died  o'  Wednesday.'  Stick  to  the  shop, 
I  tell  you.  You're  a  promising  engineer,  and 
•  there's  glory  enough  to  be  acquired  as  such,  and 
better  still,  money." 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.     "  201 

"Very  true,  doctor,"  answered  Mark  with  a 
smile.  "That  is  an  inducement.  You  know 
how  devoted  I  am  to  its  acquisition." 

"  More's  the  pity,  my  lad,  more's  the  pity.  The 
sceptre  that  rules  the  world  in  this  century  is  a 
golden  one.  However,  I  was  young  myself  once 
— long,  long  ago,  I'm  sorry  to  say — and  can  ap- 
preciate your  sublime  disdain  of  opulence.  But 
what  has  started  you  off  on  this  new  path,  may  I 
ask?" 

"  The  duty  I  owe  my  country — patriotism,"  ex- 
claimed Mark  rather  proudly. 

"Patriotism — umph!  The  last  refuge  of  a 
scoundrel,  as  Dr.  Johnson  said.  Have  you  no 
worthier  motive  ?  Forgive  me,  my  boy,  I  don't 
intend  any  personal  application — it's  a  quotation 
that  occurred  to  me.  But  patriotism  has  an  ex- 
ceedingly bad  reputation,  permit  me  to  say,  and  is 
responsible  for  more  crimes  than  liberty  and  re- 
ligion combined.  Dulce  et  decorum  est,  and  so 
forth,  *  Fidelity  to  one's  country  right  or  wrong,' 
may  be  fine  ringing  mottoes ;  but  after  all,  the  in- 
centive is  vain  and  selfish.  Patriotism  is  the  pa- 
rent of  national  prejudice,  and  prejudices  of  all 

kinds  are  the  greatest  foes  to  justice.     In  the  year 
9* 


202  •    MAKE   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

A.D.  18,000,  when  'man  to  man  the  warl  o'er 
shall  brithers  be  for  a'  that,'  patriotism  will  be 
looked  upon  as  a  species  of  f  etichism.  Patriotism  1 
I  dislike  it  almost  as  much  as  I  do  generosity. 
Still,  if  you  must  kill,  kill  for  some  other  cause. 
Here  you  Yankees  are  breathing  fire  and  slaugh- 
ter because  a  portion  of  your  countrymen  choose 
to  follow  the  example  of  their  forefathers.  They 
are  rebels  and  traitors  and  what  not,  because  they 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  the  men  of  '76,  as  you 
call  them.  The  great  question  which  underlies 
it  all  is  apparently  set  aside  and  overlooked.  The 
rallying  cry  is  not  the  extinction  of  slavery  ;  not 
freedom  to  fellow-beings  from  an  undeserved  ser- 
vitude ;  not  justice ;  but  the  Union — whatever  that 
may  be — and  patriotism  forsooth  !  the  slogan  that 
has  marshalled  unnumbered  hosts  to  the  perpe- 
tration of  so  many  wrongs,  and  which  is  only,  if 
I  may  so  define  it,  disguised  selfishness,  as  loyalty 
is  after  all  but  refined  snobbishness." 

Now  the  doctor,  although  hating  slavery,  had  a 
lurking  sympathy  for  the  South.  To  his  mind, 
they  were  abstractly  in  the  right ;  it  was  sheer 
inconsistency  for  a  union  of  states  the  outgrowth 
of  secession  to  prevent  those  among  themselves 


GILDEE8LEKVB.  203 


who  desired  it  from  taking  a  similar  action. 
Mark,  it  is  true,  while  he  had  lately  become  to  a 
certain  extent  a  proselyte  to  the  teachings  of  the 
abolitionists,  and  admitted  the  wrong  of  slavery, 
and  the  necessity  of  wiping  out  that  blot  from  the 
national  escutcheon,  made  it  subordinate  to  his 
great  desire  to  preserve  the  Union  and  save  from 
destruction  "  the  greatest  and  freest  country  on 
earth,  to  which  he  had  the  honor  to  belong." 

"  Is  it  the  greatest  and  freest  because  you  be- 
long to  it  ?  "  inquired  the  doctor  with  a  sly  smile. 
"  I  notice  that  our  great  men  are  the  greater  for 
being  our  countrymen,  and  that  our  country  is 
also  the  greater  because  it  is  our  country.  We 
love  the  person  or  thing  that  sheds  glory  or  honor 
in  any  way  upon  us,  more  because  it  does  so,  than 
because  it  is  glorious  or  honorable  in  itself.  For 
instance  the  walls  of  Shakespeare's  home  are  writ- 
ten over  with  the  names  of  visitors.  Now,  why  is 
this  ?  What  leads  Snooks  and  Noakes  to  scrib- 
ble their  names  on  the  door-jambs  of  the  shrine 
at  Stratford-upou-Avon  ?  Is  it  to  honor  Shake- 
speare or  themselves  \  Perhaps  they  cannot  quote 
two  lines  of  his  works,  perhaps  have  never  even 
read  them.  It  arises  purely  from  that  ignoble 


204:  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

desire  to  gratify  in  some  way  the  measureless 
vanity  of  man.  Snooks  and  Noakes  care  noth- 
ing for  Shakespeare,  but  the  world  recognizes  him 
as  a  celebrity,  and  they  by  connecting  themselves, 
in  however  remote  a  degree,  with  celebrity,  fancy 
they  thereby  acquire  an  atom  of  it." 

"  I  don't  see  how  any  of  this  applies  to  me," 
said  Mark,  seemingly  a  little  hurt  at  the  doctor's 
remarks.  "  I'm  sure  I  am  not  actuated  by  any 
such  small  and  contemptible  motives.  Don't 
misunderstand  me,"  he  continued  with  rising 
enthusiasm ;  "  I  intend  devoting  myself  to  the 
cause  of  the  Union,  solely  because  I  believe 
it  to  be  the  right  one,  and  to  carry  justice 
with  it." 

"  Ah !  well — I  like  that  way  of  putting  it  bet- 
ter," said  the  doctor.  "  You  know,  Mark,  how  I 
have  always  endeavored  to  imbue  you  with  the 
belief,  that  to  be  just  is  the  only  rule  of  life,  and 
that  I  should  be  sorry  to  see  you  swerve  from 
that  in  any  way." 

"  But  I  do  believe  that  the  cause  of  the  Union 
is  the  just  one,  and  that  of  the  Secessionists  the 
unjust  one.  I  also  believe  that  ours  involves  the 
cause  of  freedom  throughout  the  universe.  Our 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  205 

country,  doctor,  is  the  beacon  of  light  and  hope 
to  the  oppressed  of  all  nations." 

"  So  I've  heard,"  said  the  doctor  dryly,  "  and 
that  millions  yet  unborn — and  so  forth.  "Well — 
well,  my  zealous  young  friend,  bent  on  it,  I  see — 
God  be  with  you.  I  hope  it  will  all  turn  out 
right.  But  Mark,  how — how  are  you  going? 
Will  not  your — your — "  He  hesitated,  fearing  he 
had  trenched  on  delicate  ground,  for  he  reflected 
that  the  young  man's  lameness  might  interfere 
with  his  project. 

"  Of  course,"  said  Mark,  guessing  the  remain- 
der of  the  question, "  I  prefer  joining  the  cavalry." 

"  Well,  a  wilful  lad  must  have  his  way,  I  pre- 
sume, as  well  as  a  wilful  woman.  So  boot  and 
saddle,  my  boy,  and  may  Southern  steel  and  lead 
spare  you  to  return  to  us,  is  the  earnest  wish  of 
your  old  friend,  Basil  Wattletop.  But  whom 
shall  I  have  to  play  chess  with  ?  Have  you 
thought  of  that?" 

"  Ah !  doctor,  it's  a  grander  game  I  shall  en- 
gage in  this  time,  but  only  as  a  pawn." 

"Why  a  pawn?" 

"  Perhaps  I  shouldn't  say  that,  for  I'm  striving 
for  something  better.  You  know  I'm  not  alto- 


206  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

gether  astray  on  horseback,  and  can  ride,  I 
believe,  better  than  I  can  walk,  which  perhaps 
is  not  saying  much;  and  old  Copp,  our  night- 
watchman,  who  was  sergeant-major  during  the 
Mexican  war,  and  considered  one  of  the  best 
swordsmen  in  his  corps,  is  teaching  me  sabre 
exercise,  and  if  I  only  pass  a  fair  examination  at 
Trenton,  I  shall  get  a  commission  as  lieutenant, 
I  hope." 

"No  fear  but  you'll  make  the  effort.  So  it 
goes:  spondee,  dactyl  and  anapest  avaunt,  and 
our  nose  now  is  continually  in  Jomini,  or  Cavalry 
Tactics,  I'll  warrant.  That's  our  game  now,  my 
unappreciated  genius,  is  it  ? " 

Mark  smiled  at  his  old  friend's  banter,  for  the 
inconstant  had  indeed  given  the  Muses  the  cold 
shoulder,  to  pay  his  devoirs  to  fierce  Bellona. 
He  even  left  uncompleted  a  stirring  ode  suited 
to  the  hour,  entitled  THE  FASCES,  destined  to 
illuminate  the  columns  of  the  Belton  Sentinel, 
and  which  might  have  established  his  reputation 
as  a  second  Korner.  And  wonderful  was  the 
zeal  with  which  he  set  about  qualifying  himself 
for  his  new  vocation.  At  break  of  day  he  was 
off  scouring  the  roads  on  some  mettlesome  steed 


MARK  QILDEESLEEVB.  207 

to  acquire  a  perfect  seat,  and  the  evenings  he 
spent  practising  sword-cuts  and  "moulinets" 
with  old  Copp,  or  poring  over  some  volume  on 
the  art  of  war  (which,  to  say  the  truth,  proved 
of  but  little  practical  value  to  him),  till  long  past 
midnight.  Thanks  to  his  perseverance,  he  soon 
had  a  smattering  of  the  rudiments  of  the  pro- 
fession of  arms  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  pass 
an  examination.  This  and  a  little  of  his  brother's 
political  influence,  secured  him  a  lieutenantcy  in 
the  volunteer  cavalry. 

George  Gildersleeve,  however,  was  not  at  all 
pleased  at  the  prospect  of  parting  with  Mark,  or 
rather  with  Mark's  services,  for  he  foresaw  a  vast 
increase  of  business  for  him  growing  out  of 
the  requirements  of  the  War  Department,  and 
needed  a  valuable  coadjutor  now  more  than  ever. 
He  even  went  so  far  as  to  offer  Mark  a  partner- 
ship in  the  Works  if  he  would  give  up  his  inten- 
tion of  joining  the  army  and  remain  at  work, 
which  the  young  man,  however,  peremptorily 
refused.  George,  knowing  the  bent  of  his 
brother's  character,  saw  the  uselessness  of  further 
efforts  to  dissuade  him  from  his  purpose,  and 
complained  to  Dr.  Wattletop  about  the  matter 


208  MAEK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

in  strong  terms,  laying  the  chief  blame  upon  his 
old  enemies,  the  anathematized  abolitionists,  or 
"  woolley -heads,"  as  he  ordinarily  designated 
them.  "  He  always  has  some  dam  whim  or  other 
in  his  head,"  said  George,  alluding  to  Mark. 
"  Now  it's  nigger  on  the  brain,  and  I  believe  he 
thinks  more  of  freeing  the  darks  than  of  saving 
the  Union.  So  I'd  rather  he'd  stay  at  home. 
It's  all  very  well  to  go  if  he  was  wanted.  I'm 
ready  to  go  myself  at  a  moment's  notice  if  I'm 
needed — when  the  country  calls  I'm  there,  you 
can  bet  your  life ;  and  I'll  shoulder  a  fire-iron  as 
quick  as  any  to  help  give  the  seceshers  a  warming, 
and  for  the  matter  o'  that,  the  pusillanimous 
woolley-heads  as  well.  They  both  deserve  it. 
But  this  boy's  no  call  to  go.  He's  a  deuced  sight 
more  useful  here,  but  you  might  as  well  talk  to  a 
post.  My  wife's  done  all  she  could  and  so  have 
I,  but  it's  no  use.  Now,  major,  I  wish  you  would 
see  what  you  can  do.  You've  about  as  much  in- 
fluence over  him  as  any  one.  Dammit,  I'd  fur- 
nish a  dozen  substitutes  rather  than  have  him 
leave.  He's  the  best  draughtsman  I  know  of,  and 
worth  any  three  men  in  my  shops.  Work  's 
crowding  on  us,  and  I  can't  spare  him — that's  the 


MARTT    fnT.TYETRgT. KK V  V.T 

fact.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  the  black  republi- 
cans we  wouldn't  have  had  this  here  parra — 
parracidal  war,  and  everything  would  have  gone 
along  lovely." 

Dr.  Wattletop  had  been  to  the  "  Shades  "  that 
afternoon,  and  made  the  following  dignified  reply, 
as  he  settled  his  chin  in  his  swaddling  cravat  and 
shouldered  his  walking-stick  like  a  drill-master : 
u  In  days  gone  by,  Mr.  Gildersleeve,  in  days  gone 
by,  Sir,  had  you  Yankees  remained  loyal  and 
steadfast  (with  a  tighter  grasp  of  his  stick),  I  say, 
loyal  and  steadfast,  as  it  was  your  bounden  duty, 
to  your  sovereign  King  George  of  glorious  mem- 
ory, you  would  now  have  formed  part  of  the 
mightiest  and  grandest  empire  on  which  the 
sun  ever  shone,  and  enjoying  and  sharing  in  true, 
sound,  conservative,  and  constitutional  freedom. 
There  would  have  been  no  strife  or  fratricidal 
war  in  regard  to  slavery,  for  slavery  cannot  exist 
on  British  soil ;  but  you  chose  to  rebel  against 
righteous  authority,  and  now,  the  monster  you 
have  conjured  threatens  to  devour  you.  Sorry 
for  you,  very  sorry ;  but  permit  me  to  say  frankly 
that  you  deserve  it  all.  You  certainly  deserve  it 
all,  and  have  brought  it  on  yourselves ;"  and  the 


210  MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

doctor  shook  his  head  very  decidedly,  as  if,  while 
he  could  not  entirely  forgive  the  American  na- 
tion, he  might  be  willing  to  temper  his  judgment 
with  mercy. 

The  master  of  the  Archimedes  Works  was  at 
a  loss,  for  a  moment,  how  to  reply  to  this  unex- 
pected philippic ;  but  finally  drove  his  adversary 
off  by  asserting,  rather  vehemently,  that  the 
American  people  intended  settling  their  family 
difficulties  in  their  own  way,  and  if  John  Bull 
attempted  to  interfere  he  would  get  a  repetition 
of  the  warming  Old  Hickory  gave  him  at  New 
Orleans. 

'.'  Or  at  Bladensburg,  mayhap,"  added  the  doc- 
tor, as  he  walked  away,  convinced  that  his  part- 
ing shot  was  an  extinguisher,  and  chuckling  as 
he  muttered  "  HOG  habet !  hoc  habet !  " 


MAKK   G1LDEESIEEVE.  211 


XIII, 

THE  regiment  to  which  Mark  had  been  as- 
signed recruited  chiefly  in  Belton  from  among 
the  artisans,  and  sons  of  the  neighboring  farmers, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  the  complement  was 
made  up.  As  time  was  precious  at  this  juncture 
the  regiment  was  directed  to  proceed  without 
delay  to  Washington,  to  join  the  corps  forming 
under  Kearney. 

A  parting  surprise  had  been  prepared  for 
Mark  by  the  men  at  the  "Works,  who  had  contrib- 
uted to  purchase  a  handsome  sword,  which  was 
presented  to  the  young  lieutenant  a  few  days 
previous  t6  his  departure.  Work  was  suspended 
two  hours  before  the  usual  time,  and  Knatchbull, 
foreman  of  the  machine-shop,  and  the  oldest  man 
at  the  Works,  was  deputed  to  make  the  presenta- 
tion speech.  He  was  an  Englishman,  but  heart 
and  soul  with  the  country  of  his  adoption.  Uii- 
fortunately,  to  American  ears,  his  eloquence  was 
marred  somewhat  by  a  strong  Northumbrian 


212  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

burr.  Nevertheless,  it  was  not  ineffective,  and 
Mark,  who  was  totally  unprepared  for  such  a 
manifestation,  had  his  feelings  so  touched  by  this 
exhibition  of  friendship  for  him  by  his  late  asso- 
ciates, that  he  was  unable  to  make  a  coherent 
reply.  He  thanked  them  with  a  full  heart,  and 
one  and  all,  big  and  little,  shook  hands  with 
him ;  then  shouted  themselves  hoarse,  until 
George  Gildersleeve,  who  had  become  reconciled 
to  Mark's  leaving,  and  even  promised  him  the 
finest  charger  money  could  buy,  delivered  his 
sentiments  in  the  following  pithy  address : 

"  Mark  Gildersleeve !  remember  the  man  whose 
horse  wore  that  old  shoe  over  there  (pointing  to  the 
fire-place  in  the  counting-room),  and  remember 
your  grandfather  who  shod  him  just  afore  the 
great  battle  of  Trenton,  and  stand  by  the  old  flag, 
now  and  forever !  That's  all.  Now  boys  we've 
had  enough  chin-music;  step  upstairs  and  wet 
your  whistles." 

And  up  they  all  went  into  the  loft,  where  the 
consumption  of  punch,  champagne,  and  sand- 
wiches was  wreathed  about  with  the  flowers  of 
patriotic  song,  and  till  long  towards  midnight 
the  vale  of  Belton  resounded  with  the  choric 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  213 

melodies  of  the  "  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  and 
"  Rally  round  the  Flag,"  whose  stentorious  strains 
were  borne  across  the  Passaic  to  reverberate  and 
die  amid  the  distant  Preakness  hills. 

The  eve  of  departure  was  at  hand.  Mark  had 
not  had  any  interview  or  communication  with 
Miss  Heath  since  her  brother's  death.  He  had 
seen  her  several  times,  either  at  church  or  while 
she  was  riding,  and  exchanged  salutations,  but 
had  not  attempted  to  visit  her.  But  now,  he 
could  forego  it  no  longer.  Clad  in  a  bran-new 
uniform,  that  displayed  his  square  shoulders  and 
sinewy  waist  to  advantage,  he  went  with  palpitat- 
ing heart  to  the  Cliff  to  take  leave  of  Edna.  He 
hoped  to  be  fortunate  enough  to  see  her  alone. 
He  had  not  long  to  wait  in  the  vast  drawing- 
room,  when  light  footsteps  announced  the  young 
lady.  She  looked  slender  in  her  black  dress,  and 
rather  pale,  but  a  light  blush  mantled  her  features 
as  she  received  him  with  a  cordial  smile.  He 
colored  in  response,  and  their  looks  spoke  volumes 
to  each  other. 

"  I — I  trust,"  said  Mark,  "  the  audacity  of  my 
avowal  at  our  last  meeting,  Edna,  has  already 


214  MARK   GILDERSLEEYE. 

been  forgiven,  but  I  hope  the  avowal  itself  is  not 
forgotten  I " 

"  You  seem  determined  to  remind  me  of  it  at 
all  events,"  replied  Edna,  parrying  the  question, 
and  withdrawing  her  hand  from  his,  as  she 
motioned  him  to  a  chair.  She  took  a  seat  oppo- 
site to  him  on  a  sofa,  composing  the  folds  of  her 
dress  in  a  nonchalant  way,  as  if  she  feared  having 
betrayed  too  much  gratification  in  her  greeting. 
There  was  an  awkward  pause  for  a  moment. 
Then  Mark,  exchanging  his  seat  for  one  beside 
Edna,  and  arming  himself  with  persuasive  audac- 
ity, took  up  her  words.  "  Remind  you,  Edna  ? 
Oh !  could  I  but  impress  you  with  a  faint  idea  of 
how  intensely  I  adore  you — how  completely  you 
control  my  wishes,  ambition,  aspirations — my 
heart !  Did  you  know  how  entirely  the  remem- 
brance of  you  is  interwoven  with  every  thought 
of  my  life,  you  would  not  wonder  at  my  cherish- 
ing jealously  every  kind  glance  and  every  smile 
as  a  priceless  boon." 

Edna  attempted  to  frame  some  coy  reply,  but 
the  artless  girl  was  unable  to  carry  on  the  coquet- 
tish play  of  a  sued  maiden  against  the  resistless 
ardor  of  such  an  impetuous  wooer.  She  could 


MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  215 

only  remain  silent,  with  lowered  glance  and 
burning  cheek,  while  her  daring  suitor  con- 
tinued, "  I  may  be  exceedingly  presumptuous  in 
aspiring  to  you,  Edna.  I  have  nothing  to  offer, 
and  I  know  you  deserve  all  that  earth  can  give, 
but  all  I  ask  now,  is  to  be  permitted  to  hope,  and 
meanwhile  to  worship,  for  no  divinity  is  too  ex- 
alted to  spurn  the  humblest  devotee ;  but  I  need 
your  consent  and  encouragement;  without  that, 
the  task  I  have  undertaken  will  be  purposeless, 
and  all  honor  I  might  win  prove  barren.  I  have 
come  to  bid  you  farewell." 

*• 

"  Farewell,"  echoed  Edna,  raising  her  eyes  to  his. 

"  Yes,"  said  Mark,  "  to-morrow  morning  I  leave 
for  Virginia,  and  I've  come  to  bid  you  farewell, 
and  beg  some  token — some  favor,  Edna,  which  I 
know  you  will  not  refuse  me ;  and  if  it  should  be 
my  fate  never  to  return — " 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that,"  exclaimed  Edna  in  tones 
that  betrayed  her  anxiety. 

"  I  trust  I  shall  return,  Edna,  and  in  a  position 
to  make  me  more  worthy  of  the  interest  you  man- 
ifest in  me.  Dearest,  the  sweet  confession  I  read 
in  your  eyes — in  your  tell-tale  blushes,  nerves  me 
for  every  danger,"  etc.,  etc. 


216  MARTT   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

Mark  was  getting  along  famously  in  the  time- 
honored  way,  when,  at  this  tender  stage  of  affairs, 
who  should  make  her  unwelcome  appearance  but 
Aunt  Applegate,  fortunately  a  myopic  matron, 
who  underwent  an  introduction  to  Mark,  without 
seemingly  noticing  the  confused  looks  of  the  sen- 
timental pair.  A  voluble  dame  luckily  was 
Mrs.  Applegate,  who  had  known  Mark's  mother 
and  several  of  his  dead  and  gone  relatives,  and 
instantly  resurrected  many  incidents  and  remi- 
niscences connected  with  the  existence  of  those 
personages,  thereby  giving  Edna  time  to  assume 
a  properly  demure  countenance.  Our  budding 
warrior  and  lover,  while  feigning  an  hypocritical 
interest  in  the  conversation  of  the  intruding  lady, 
would,  we  fear,  have  seen  her  led  off  to  the  rack 
or  stake  with  glee  and  gratitude.  In  happy  un- 
consciousness of  the  kind  feelings  towards  her, 
Mrs.  Applegate  continued,  touching  upon  the  pre- 
vailing topic :  "  So  you  are  going  to  the  war, 
Mr.  Gildersleeve?  Isn't  it  dreadful?  Dear  me, 
I  don't  know  how  it  will  all  end.  Edna  told  me 
you  had  joined  the  cavalry,  and  I  think  you  are 
very  sensible  in  doing  so,  for  you  have  a  great 
advantage  over  the  foot-soldiers,  and  if  worst 


GELDERSLEEVE.  217 


comes  to  the  worst,  and  matters  become  serious, 
you  can,  in  case  of  danger,  always  get  away  from 
it  much  faster.  Edna  said  —  I  believe  you  read  it 
in  the  paper,  didn't  you,  dear?  Yes.  So  I 
thought  —  that  you  were  a  lieutenant.  Now  I 
should  think  that  was  doing  very  well  for  so  short 
a  time.  Mrs.  Mumbie  is  so  worried  about  De- 
catur.  He  is  at  the  Naval  School,  you  know, 
and  she  is  afraid  he  may  have  to  go  and  fight. 
She's  a  Southerner,  and  all  her  sympathies  are 
with  the  South,"  etc.,  etc. 

Mrs.  Applegate  continued  in  this  strain  for 
some  time,  duly  impressing  on  Mark  the  necessity 
of  keeping  his  feet  dry  upon  all  occasions,  and 
avoiding  damp  ground  as  a  couch.  She  offered 
furthermore  to  present  him  with  a  quart  bottle 
of  picra,  a  remedial  agent  of  great  virtue  and 
nastiness.  "  I  prepared  it  myself,  and  am  never 
without  it,  and  wouldn't  be  for  anything.  Mr. 
Applegate  used  to  say,  '  Now,  Susan,  if  you'd 
only  advertise  it,  you'd  make  your  fortune.'  It's 
the  very  best  thing  in  the  world  to  ward  off  chills 
and  fever  ;  and  now  I  think  of  it,  Mr.  Gilder- 
sleeve,  if  you  could  introduce  it  in  the  army,  and 

induce  the  soldiers  to  take  it  occasionally  instead 
10 


218  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

of  their  vile  whiskey  and  brandy,  what  a  blessing 
it  would  be !  I'm  sure  for  my  part  nothing  would 
give  me  greater  pleasure  than  to  'furnish  the  re- 
cipe. Now,  if  you'll  bear  this  in  mind,  and 
write  me,  I'll  send  it  to  you  at  any  time." 

Mark  promised  to  do  so ;  he  would  have  prom- 
ised anything,  even  to  taking  a  daily  dose  of  picra 
for  a  month,  if  Mrs.  Applegate  would  only  have 
allowed  him  a  few  minutes'  longer  tete-d-tete  with 
his  sweetheart,  but  it  was  not  to  be,  and  he  was 
about  to  take  his  leave  when  Mrs.  Applegate  re- 
quested him  to  stay  to  tea,  an  invitation  which  he 
gladly  accepted.  The  meal  was  rather  a  stiff 
and  ceremonious  affair,  but  Mark  was  supremely 
happy  as  he  sat  next  to  Edna.  Mr.  Heath,  who 
had  returned  from  his  journey  apparently  not 
much  improved  in  health,  was  rather  mystified  at 
the  young  officer's  presence,  and  stared  somewhat 
at  his  shoulder-straps.  Mark  noticed  that  the 
patrician  had  lost  much  of  his  old  rigid  pride,  and 
looked  fatigued  and  care-worn.  He  appeared  to 
take  but  little  interest  in  the  momentous  events 
of  the  day,  and  his  one  or  two  listless  questions 
betrayed  a  remarkable  ignorance  of  what  was 
going  on  around  him  in  relation  to  the  war. 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  219 

After  tea  they  withdrew  to  the  parlors,  with  the 
exception  of  Mr.  Heath,  who  retired  to  his  room. 
Mrs.  Applegate, '  complimenting  Mark  on  his 
voice,  requested  him  to  favor  her  with  "  Angels 
ever  bright  and  fair ; "  which  the  young  fellow 
did,  you  may  rest  assured,  to  the  very  best  of  his 
ability,  as  he  sang  to  Edna's  accompaniment.  Then 
other  visitors  came.  First,  the  Rev.  Spencer 
Abbott,  somewhat  amazed,  and  perhaps  a  little 
displeased  at  Mark's  presence,  but  too  well  bred 
to  show  it;  next,  Bob  Mumbie  and  his  sister 
Ada,  to  whom  Mark  underwent  an  introduction — • 
an  embarrassing  ceremony  where  all  the  parties 
have  known  each  other  from  childhood,  but  tac- 
itly agreed  as  they  grew  up  to  be  as  strangers. 
However,  the  ice  was  soon  broken.  The  young 
rector  was  pleasant  enough  and  had  a  batch  of 
entirely  new  conundrums  to  offer.  Bob  Mumbie, 
though  rather  doltish,  was  a  good-natured,  amus- 
ing fellow,  while  Miss  Ada  chose  to  make  herself 
unusually  agreeable,  succumbing,  perhaps,  to  the 
potent  fascination  of  the  lieutenant's  blue  coat  and 
gilt  buttons.  She  was  a  rather  pretty  girl,  with 
a  clear  brunette  complexion ;  but  strongly  marked 
brows  knit  over  brilliant  black  eyes,  and  disdain- 


220  MAEK   GHDEKSLEEVE. 

ful  lips,  gave  her  an  imperious  expression.  She 
attacked  a  sonata  of  Beethoven,  but  it  was  evi- 
dently beyond  the  capacity  of  her  unpractised 
fingers,  and  it  was  a  relief  when  her  brother  of- 
fered to  treat  the  company  to  "  The  Old  Folks  at 
Home."  Bob  Mumbie's  forte  was  Ethiopian 
minstrelsy,  and  he  sang  the  simple  lays  of  the 
plantation  with  all  the  pathos  of  a  professional. 
Led  on  by  the  general  applause,  Bob  followed  it 
up  with  « Old  Uncle  Snow,"  then  "  Sally  Come 
up,"  and  concluded  with  a  "  "Walk  round,"  after 
the  manner  of  the  celebrated  Mr.  Bryant,  to  the 
intense  amusement  of  Mrs.  Applegate,  whose 
capacious  form  shook  with  laughter,  and  of  Edna, 
who  enjoyed  it  scarcely  less.  All  this  was  hor- 
ridly unaesthetic,  and  Mark,  the  prig,  only  re- 
warded the  performance  with  a  condescending 
smile.  Perhaps,  was  he  jealous  that  his  efforts 
had  not  met  with  equal  success,  or  that  Edna  had 
requested  a  repetition  of  "  Uncle  Snow  "  ?  For 
all  that,  and  in  spite  of  it,  he  enjoyed  himself, 
and  passed  a  delightful  evening ;  one  that  he  often 
recalled  as  he  smoked  his  corn-cob  pipe  and  rum- 
inated before  the  lonely  bivouac-fires  during  the 
tedious  Peninsular  campaign. 


MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE.  221 

Mark  was  grievously  disappointed  though, 
when  about  taking  his  leave  that  evening,  to  find 
Mrs.  Applegate  accompanying  her  niece  to  the 
door  to  press  on  his  acceptance  a  large  bottle  of 
picra.  He  was  fain  to  content  himself  with  ex- 
changing a  lingering  pressure  of  the  hands  and 
an  eloquent  look  with  Edna.  She  found  means, 
however,  to  give  him  a  small  folded  paper  which 
of  course  contained,  to  his  supreme  delight,  a 
tress  of  her  bonny  blond  hair.  Any  one  witness- 
ing his  behavior  as  he  went  home  that  night, 
stopping  every  moment  to  cover  the  precious 
keepsake  with  kisses,  and  then  as  he  crossed  the 
bridge  to  the  town,  to  fling  a  bottle  rather  im- 
patiently into  the  river,  might  reasonably  have 
entertained  doubts  as  to  his  sanity. 

And  the  sweet  enchantress  who  had  cast  this 
spell  ?  She  was  rather  startled  when  stopping 
at  her  father's  room  to  bid  him  good-night,  he 
abruptly  asked  her  what  that  young  man  had 
called  for?  Fortunately  he  did  not  notice  her 
deep  color  as  she  answered  that  he  had  merely 
come  to  bid  them  good -by,  and  Aunt  Susan  had 
asked  him  to  stay  to  tea. 

"Ah!  yes — going  to  the  war,  I  see.     Well, 


222  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

good-night,  darling,"  was  all  Mr.  Heath  remarked, 
and  Edna  was  much  relieved  when  she  discovered 
her  father's  curiosity  extended  no  farther.  But 
what  a  long  serious  meditation  she  had  after  re- 
tiring to  her  room !  How  often  she  stopped  and 
reflected  as  she  braided  her  hair  for  the  night ! 
She  was  now  fairly  in  love.  This  last  step  of 
Mark's  had  achieved  her  conquest.  What  young 
lady  with  any  kind  of  a  heart  could  resist  the 
fascination  of  a  gallant  who  was  both  a  poet  and 
soldier?  And  not  only  that,  but  who  had  the 
finest  black  eyes  and  cliiselled  features  conceiv- 
able ?  Even  Ada  Mumbie,  who  had  never  con- 
descended to  notice  him  before,  was  now  forced 
to  admit  that  he  looked  "  splendid  "  in  his  uniform. 
Edna  had  read  of  Sidney,  and  fancied  Mark 
must  be  just  such  another  individual  as  that 
model  knight.  As  for  Fred  Spooner,  who  wrote 
her  such  school-boy  scrawls  from  Harvard,  what 
was  there  chivalrous  about  him?  But  Mark 
could  only  be  compared  to  one  of  those  delightful 
mailed  beaux  of  old  who  went  ambling  about 
the  world  smiting  every  one  who  didn't  instantly 
acknowledge  that  their  own  particular  ladylove 
was  vastly  superior  to  all  other  ladyloves  in  ex- 


MAEK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  223 

istence ;  and  she  hadn't  any  doubt  but  that  Mark 
was  ready  to  enter  the  lists  at  a  moment's  notice 
for  such  a  purpose;  and  we  may  add  that  we 
do  not  think  she  was  much  mistaken  in  her  belief 
either.  So  she  decided  in  her  mind  that  as  soon 
as  she  was  nineteen,  and  Mark  became  a  general, 
which  would  doubtless  be  contemporaneous  events, 
they  would  be  married.  Then  a  sad  expression 
shadowed  her  face,  as  the  thought  crossed  her 
rnind  that  perhaps  he  might  fall  in  battle.  When 
she  knelt  at  her  bedside  in  her  vestal  robe,  an 
appeal  for  the  protection  and  safe  return  of  the 
young  lieutenant  was  not  omitted,  we  will  vent- 
ure to  say. 

The  sun  came  out  bright  and  encouragingly 
the  next  morning,  when  a  clear  bugle-call  roused 
the  recruiting  camp  on  the  outskirts  of  Belton. 
The  men  were  under  order  to  leave  for  Washing- 
ton by  an  early  train.  It  was  a  memorable  day 
for  the  town,  and  the  citizens  assembled  to  see 
the  gallant  lads  off.  The  cavalry-men  were  dis- 
mounted, lightly  equipped  with  blankets  and 
haversacks,  while  their  officers  carried  their 
sabres  with  all  the  pride  of  veterans.  They  de- 


224  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVB. 

filed  through  the  principal  streets  on  their  way  to 
the  railway-station,  accompanied  by  the  "  Home 
Guard,"  and  preceded  by  the  Belton  brass-band 
ringing  out  "John  Brown's  march,"  while  the 
people  cheered  lustily.  There  was  Mark  with 
his  cap  bearing  its  insignia  of  crossed  sabres  set 
jauntily  on  one  side  of  his  head,  marching  proudly 
along,  unmindful  for  the  moment  of  his  halting 
gait,  which  was  more  apparent  than  usual,  as  he 
kept  step  with  the  even  ranks.  As  his  eyes  wan- 
dered towards  the  throng  on  the  sidewalks,  he 
caught  sight  of  the  figure  of  a  young  girl  closely 
wrapped  in  a  dark  shawl.  It  was  Edna ;  and  as 
she  stealthily  waved  her  handkerchief  he  colored 
to  the  temples,  bowed  an  acknowledgment,  and 
so  they  parted. 

More  leave-takings  at  the  depot.  Poor  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve  sobbing  like  a  child,  until  her  hand- 
kerchief was  soaked  in  tears,  and  her  husband, 
the  bold  captain  of  the  "  Home  Guards,"  feeling 
probably  almost  as  bad,  but  affecting  an  exag- 
gerated bluffness,  and  proffering  the  rather  un- 
military  advice  to  Mark  to  "stand  no  nonsense 
-and  look  out  for  number  one."  Then  Dr.  Wattle- 
top  had  his  good  word  of  cheer  and  encouragement 


MABK  GILDEESLEEVE.  225 

for  young  Rupert,  as  he  called  him ;  and  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sniffen  said  his  kind  say ;  and  lastly,  old 
Copp  gave  him  a  parting  grip,  whose  intense 
heartiness  nearly  brought  tears  into  his  eyes. 

All  this  solicitude  shown  in  his  behalf,  and  re- 
gret expressed  at  his  departure  by  his  friends 
caused  Mark  to  feel  as  if  he  didn't  deserve  it  at 
all,  and  was  rather  an  ungrateful  wretch  in  going 
away.  "  What  shall  I  do  to  merit  all  this  ? "  was 
his  reflection  as  the  train  sped  on  that  bore  him 
off.  "I  must  not  disappoint  them,  and  I  shall 
not.  No,  I'll  not  enter  Belton  again  if  the  war 
lasts  until  I  can  wear  spread-eagles  on  my  shoul- 
der-straps, unless  I  am  brought  in  on  a  stretcher,'* 
vowed  he,  thinking  probably  that  in  either  event 
the  expectations  of  his  friends  would  be  met  and 
his  condition  a  source  of  satisfaction  to  them. 

Time  passed  on  with  Edna,  measured  only  by 
the  intervals  between  the  receipt  of  letters  from 
Mark.  These  missives  were  of  course  frequent 
and  fervid,  and  responded  to  in  as  nearly  similar 
a  strain  as  maidenly  reserve  would  permit. 
There  was  nothing  particularly  novel  or  striking 
in  Edna's  letters,  but  Mark  esteemed  them  as 

compositions  of  wonderful  merit.     He  believed 
10* 


226  MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

he  saw  in  her  well-balanced  sentences,  and  neat, 
flowing  penmanship  a  reflex  of  her  natty  ways 
and  symmetric  character.  These  precious  notes 
he  always  carried  about  him,  and  they  were  read 
and  re-read  until  he  knew  their  contents  by  heart. 
Edna,  on'her  part,  made  as  absorbing  a  study  of 
her  lover's  correspondence. 

Mark  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  its 
memorable  campaign  in  the  Peninsula.  Promo- 
tion was  rapid  among  the  volunteers,  and  he  was 
soon  advanced  to  a  captaincy.  By  this  time  he 
had  been  in  several  engagements,  and  behaved 
with  credit.  Naturally,  at  his  first  experience  of 
actual  warfare,  he  was  uncertain  of  himself,  and 
dreaded  lest  his  heart  should  fail  him.  The 
gravity  of  the  commanders  at  the  approach  of 
battle ;  the  sullen  boom  of  distant  cannon  draw- 
ing nearer  and  nearer — the  preliminary  pause 
inspires  the  novice  with  dread  and  awe  ;  but  the 
first  flutter  of  fear  over,  the  sharp  crack  of  rifles 
and  smell  of  powder  soon  kindles  the  blood  of  a 
true  soldier,  and  Mark  found  himself  in  his  ele- 
ment, oblivious  of  danger,  and  dashing  with  the 
foremost  into  the  fight. 

He  was  chary  of  imparting  his  own  exploits, 


MASK  QILDEESLEEVB.  227 

but  Edna  heard  of  them  occasionally  through  the 
public  prints,  which  she  diligently  scanned  every 
day  for  news  from  the th  New  Jersey  Cav- 
alry. Once  she  had  a  fearful  fright,  for  she 
found  Captain  Mark  Gildersleeve's  name  among 
the  wounded.  But,  to  her  relief,  a  letter  from 
him  came  soon  after,  which  informed  her  that 
the  injury  he  had  received  was  but  slight,  and 
that  he  expected  to  be  in  the  saddle  again  in  a 
few  days.  The  truth  was,  that  our  hero's  career 
had  come  within  an  ace  of  an  untimely  close. 
While  out  on  a  reconnoissance,  his  troop  had 
fallen  in  with  a  portion  of  Jeb  Stuart's  horse, 
and  Mark,  who  had  often  longed  for  an  oppor- 
tunity for  a  hand-to-hand  combat  with  some  of 
the  noted  Southern  troopers,  drew  his  sabre  and 
rode  with  reckless  impetuosity  into  the  midst  of 
the  enemy.  He  was  about  to  single  out  an  adver- 
sary, as  if  to  engage  in  a  joust,  when  he  was  in- 
stantly surrounded  and  a  stroke  dealt  at  him  which 
'only  the  stoutness  of  his  leathern  cap- visor  pre- 
vented from  terminating  his  existence.  As  it 
was,  the  gash  he  received  was  a  serious  one ;  but 
fortunately  his  companions  had  arrived  in  time  to 
rescue  him  from  further  peril,  and  disperse  the 


228  MAKE  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

rebels.  The  wound  soon  healed,  but  it  left  a 
scar  which,  though  it  rather  impaired  his  good 
looks,  he  deemed  a  favor  for  this  reason :  since 
he  had  been  in  the  army  he  was  often  subjected 
to  the  query,  suggested  by  his  lameness,  of  where 
and  how  he  had  been  wounded ;  the  embarrass- 
ment of  an  explanation  and  the  recollections  re- 
vived by  it,  were  such  as  to  cause  him  to  accept 
with  gratitude  the  ugly  seam  that  now  disfigured 
him,  but  would  thenceforth  probably  divert  the 
attention  of  inquisitive  persons  from  his  other 
physical  defect. 

Mark  wrote  to  Edna  in  a  pleasant,  jesting  way 
concerning  the  embellishment  his  countenance 
had  undergone.  He  promised  to  send  her  a  like- 
ness of  his  improved  appearance  at  the  first  op- 
portunity, and  alluded  to  the  wound  he  had  re- 
ceived from  -  the  rebel  trooper  as  a  mere  pin 
scratch  in  comparison  with  the  one  inflicted  by  her 
on  his  heart,  with  much  more  to  the  same  pur- 
pose, and  signed  himself  "  Le  Balafre." 

Edna  was  pleased  to  find  that  he  took  it  all  in  such 
good  part,  and  replied  beseeching  him  not  to  ex- 
pose himself  so  rashly — she  was  certain  he  waa 
rash  and  reckless,  and  for  her  sake  to  be  cautious 


MATTE:  GILDERSLEEVE.  229 

and  prudent,  ending  with  the  hope  that  the  war 
would  soon  end,  and  enable  him  to  return  home. 
Beside  her  solicitude  for  Mark,  the  girl's 
thoughts  were  greatly  occupied  with  her  father's 
changed  health  and  habits.  Despite  his  cold, 
undemonstrative  temperament,  Mr.  Heath  was 
strongly  attached  to  his  child.  If  his  manifesta- 
tions of  affection  had  been  few  and  far  between, 
on  the  other  hand  he  had  never  chidden  her,  and 
she  had  been  indulged  in  every  way,  and  her 
lightest  wishes  gratified.  The  daughter  more 
than  reciprocated  the  love  so  charily  bestowed, 
and  her  impressionable  nature  seemed  to  reflect 
her  father's  changeful  moods.  Now  her  intuition 
told  her  that  he  suffered.  He  had  not  been  the 
same  man  since  the  death  of  his  son.  At  times 
he  shook  off  his  despondency,  and  appeared  to 
regain  some  of  his  former  energy ;  but  the  effort 
was  but  momentary.  His  business  matters  were 
now  entirely  conducted  by  others,  and  he  even 
grew  neglectful  of  his  personal  appearance — a 
symptom  that  struck  Edna  with  alarm.  One 
morning  when  he  breakfasted  with  the  family  in 
his  dressing-gown  and  with  an  unshaven  face, 
Edna,  after  he  had  left  the  table,  remarked  to 


230 

her  aunt  on  the  great  alteration  in  her  father's 
habits :  "  I  never  knew  him  to  do  such  a  thing 
before.  Yesterday  afternoon  I  saw  him  go  into 
the  picture-gallery,  and  I  went  in  very  soon  after. 
He  was  staring  fixedly  at  that  picture  of  the  Sis- 
tine  Madonna,  and  did  not  notice  my  coming  in. 
When  I  went  and  spoke  to  him  he  started  with 
such  a  pained  expression  that  it  made  me  feel 
dreadful." 

"  My  dear  child,"  said  Mrs.  Applegate  in  a  re- 
assuring tone,  "  you  must  bear  in  mind  that  your 
father  is  getting  old.  You  can't  expect  him  al- 
ways to  remain  smart  and  active.  Years  will  tell 
on  all  of  us.  Besides,  everybody  has  something 
the  matter  with  them ;  if  it  isn't  one  thing  it's  an- 
other. Now  Mr.  Applegate  used  to  say  that  gout 
or  rheumatism  was  more  certain  if  not  so  desirable 
as  riches,  and  I  know  that  years  before  he  died — " 

"  But,  aunt,"  interrupted  Edna,  "  father  is  not 
so  very  old.  I  do  not  think  his  condition  is  natu- 
ral. I  feel  sure  he  suffers  very  much ;  I  know  it. 
Whenever  I  talk  to  him  he  don't  seem  to  be 
aware  of  what  I  am  saying.  I  often  write  letters 
to  him  as  I  used  to,  on  some  subject  that  I  think 
will  interest  him,  but  he  lays  them  aside  without 


GrLDEESLEEVE.  231 


opening  them.  I  can  always  tell  whenever  any- 
thing ails  him  ;  and  besides,  his  last  trip  did  not  do 
him  a  bit  of  good.  He  broods  so  constantly  over 
Jack's  death,  and  seems  so  very  miserable,  that  it 
makes  me  feel  dreadful  to  see  him  ;  and  then,  if 
I  ask  him  if  he  feels  ill,  he  seems  so  annoyed,  that 
I  dare  not  question  him  further.  I  am  afraid 
that  unless  something  is  done  his  health  will  be 
seriously  affected.  Do  send  a  note  to  Dr.  Wattle- 
top  to  come  and  see  him." 

"As  you  please,  dear;  but  you  know  how 
strongly  your  father  objects  to  having  anything 
to  do  with  doctors,  and  how  angry  he  may  be  if 
he  finds  out  we  have  taken  such  a  step  without 
consulting  him.  So  we  must  expect  a  scolding." 

"  Never  mind,  aunt  ;  I'll  take  all  the  blame  on 
my  shoulders,"  replied  Edna.  "  I  certainly  feel  it 
is  our  duty  to  ask  some  physician's  advice.  Sup- 
pose you  ask  Dr.  Wattletop  to  call  ;  you  might 
say  you  wished  to  consult  him  in  case  an  ex- 
cuse is  needed.  Then  you  could  explain  the  mat- 
ter to  the  doctor  without  alarming  or  annoying 
father  in  the  least.  Wouldn't  that  do  ?  " 

"Well,  my  dear,  perhaps  it  might.  At  all 
events,  I'll  send  the  doctor  a  note,  and  ask  him 


232  MAKK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

what  we  had  better  do.  There  can  be  no  harm 
in  that." 

Dr.  Wattletop  came  as  requested  under  pretext 
of  prescribing  for  Mrs.  Applegate.  lie  remained 
to  dine,  and  was  seated  opposite  Mr.  Heath, 
who  replied  to  the  customary  inquiries  respecting 
his  health  with  a  curt  and  nervous,  "  Thank  you, 
never  better,  never  better."  But  he  was  so  un- 
easy beneath  the  physician's  big  interrogative  eyes 
BO  constantly  directed  toward  him,  that  he  feigned 
some  excuse,  and  left  the  table  before  the  end  of 
the  meal. 

The  physician  was  struck  with  the  marked 
alteration  in  Mr.  Heath's  aspect.  That  energetic, 
refined  aristocrat,  had  suddenly  become  a  listless, 
peevish  old  man.  His  keen  ice-gray  eyes  were  dull, 
and  the  muscles  of  his  once  smooth,  marble-like 
face  were  now  flaccid,  and  covered  with  a  growing 
unkempt  beard.  Slovenliness  had  replaced  tidi- 
ness, and  every  part  and  action  of  the  man  de- 
noted a  great  change  in  his  physical  and  mental 
condition. 

Dr.  "Wattletop  was  perplexed.  He  questioned 
Mrs.  Applegate  and  Edna,  but  could  elicit  nothing 
to  assist  him  in  finding  a  clue  to  the  cause  of  this 


GILDEESLEEVE.  233 

sudden  and  extraordinary  transformation  in  an 
individual  the  least  likely  to  be  affected  by  care 
or  illness.  "  A  man  of  brazen  constitution — 
heart  idem — brain  idem,"  cogitated  the  doctor, 
"  on  whom  emotions  and  troubles  would  gnaw 
in  vain,  who  was  apparently  not  deeply  moved 
by  the  loss  of  his  son,  now  shows  unmistakable 
signs  of  mental  distress — for  mental  it  is." 
Basil  Wattletop,  M.D.,  albeit  an  experienced 
leech,  was  nonplussed,  and  muttering  something 
to  the  ladies  about  "  splenetic  affection,"  "  torpid 
liver,"  and  the  like,  took  his  leave,  to  await  fur- 
ther developments. 

A  few  days  later  the  doctor  was  surprised  to 
receive  a  message  from  Mr.  Heath,  asking  him  to 
call  at  his  earliest  convenience,  on  business  not 
of  a  professional  character. 

The  doctor  took  the  first  opportunity  to  comply 
with  the  request,  and  on  arriving  at  the  Cliff  was 
shown  into  the  library,  where  Mr.  Heath  received 
his  visitor,  and  motioned  him  to  a  chair,  with 
something  of  his  old  courtliness  of  manner.  The 
physician  noticed  that  his  host  exhibited  an  im- 
proved appearance,  and  in  particular  that  his 
toilet  had  been  carefully  attended  to. 


234:  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

"  When  I  wrote  you  that  note,  doctor,"  said  Mr. 
Heath' with  a  weak  smile,  "  I  did  not  expect  so 
soon  to  have  the  pleasure  of  a  visit  from  you.  I 
believe  I  was  careful  to  state  that  what  I  wanted 
to  see  you  about  was  not  of  a  professional  nat- 
ure." 

"  Precisely,"  said  the  doctor,  nodding  his  head 
in  acquiescence, 

"  Hence  I  trust  it  has  not  interfered  with  any 
of  your  engagements  ? " 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  the  doctor. 

It  seemed  as  if  Mr.  Heath  were  reluctant  to  ap- 
proach the  object  for  which  he  had  summoned 
Dr.  Wattletop,  for  he  remained  a  few  moments 
in  silence  with  his  fingers  to  his  forehead  in 
meditation,  while  the  other  watched  him  curi- 
ously. At  length  he  abruptly  said,  "  You  are  a 
freethinker,  1  am  told,  doctor  ? " 

The  physician,  somewhat  taken  aback  by  this 
unexpected  question,  replied :  "  "Well,  it  depends 
altogether  upon  your  definition  of  the  term.  If 
you  mean  by  freethinker,  one  who  exercises  his 
reason  in  an  independent  way,  I  certainly  am." 

"  Do  you,  for  instance,  doctor,  believe  in  eter- 
nal punishment  ?  " 


MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  235 

"  No,  certainly  not,"  said  the  doctor,  very  de- 
cidedly. 

"  It's  a  fearful  thought,"  ejaculated  rather  than 
spoke  Mr.  Heath,  as  a  shudder  seemed  to  pass 
over  his  frame. 

"Fearful?  It's  wicked,  abominable,  impious. 
To  suppose  that  a  beneficent  God  would  condemn 
a  weak  mortal  to  a  doom  cruel  beyond  concep- 
tion, would  punish  in  a  way  that  even  imperfect 
man  would  not,  under  any  provocation,  is  simply 
monstrous.  Fortunately  there  are  but  few  who 
realty  believe  in  such  a  doctrine,  and  those  who 
do,  are,  I  find,  perfectly  satisfied  that  they  will 
escape,  even  if  the  rest  of  the  world  is  sent  to 
perdition." 

"  Doctor,"  said  Mr.  Heath,  "  you  will  be  very 
much  surprised  when  I  tell  you  that  although  I 
have  been  a  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  for  twenty  years,  and  have  conformed 
strictly  to  its  forms  and  observances,  I  have  no 
settled  religious  belief." 

"  Not  a  bit  surprised,  Mr.  Heath,  not  a  bit.  In 
fact,  I  believe  that  fully  three-quarters  of  the  at- 
tendants at  Church  are  in  the  same  condition.  In- 
deed, when  I  think  of  the  indifference  with  which 


236  MART?   GILDKKSLEEVE. 

the  most  solemn  and  important  trtiths  are  received, 
the  mechanical  piety  of  so-called  devotees,  and 
the  facility  with  which  they  are  swayed  by  trivial 
weaknesses,  foibles,  and  vanities,  I  believe  I  am 
understating  the  proportion  of  practical  unbe- 
lievers to  the  earnest  and  consistent  professors. 
I  have  found  this  as  my  experience  of  men,  that 
while  all  dread  falling  below  what  we  may  call 
the  average  of  morality,  the  mass  are  indifferent 
about  rising  above  it.  In  other  words,  while  no 
one  desires  to  be  worse  than  his  neighbor,  no  one 
cares  about  being  any  better.  This  accounts  for 
the  force  of  example,  and  the  frequency  of  the 
tu-quoque  style  of  argument.  It  is  true  there  are 
exceptions,  earnest  men  and  women  full  of  en- 
thusiastic zeal,  but  if  anything,  these  exceptions 
prove  the  rule." 

"Mr.  Abbott  explains  this  indiiference  and 
the  present  low  state  of  morality  to  a  want 
of  spirituality  in  the  Church,"  remarked  Mr. 
Heath. 

"Want  of  fiddlesticks,"  replied  the  doctor. 
"  Want  of  consistency  is  the  trouble.  Example — 
example  is  the  great  teacher,  and  in  fact  the  only 
teacher.  If  you  and  I  are  inconsistent  or  unjust, 


MAKK   GILDEESLEEVE.  237 

we  infect  the  rest  and  the  contagion  spreads,  and 
no  doctrinal  exposition  can  countervail." 

"  Permit  me,  doctor,  to  offer  you  some  refresh- 
ment," said  Mr.  Heath,  rising  to  ring  the  bell, 
perhaps  to  change  the  topic  of  conversation,  which 
now  diverged  into  commonplaces. 

Presently  a  domestic  returned  bearing  a  liqueur 
case. 

"  Will  you  please  help  yourself,  doctor.  Here 
is  some  Sherry — or  if  you  prefer  it,  Mononga- 
hela." 

While  the  doctor  was  dealing  himself  a  liberal 
allowance  of  the  whiskey,  Mr.  Heath  resumed  his 
seat  and  his  meditative  expression.  Finally  he 
drew  himself  closer  to  the  doctor's  chair,  as  if  to 
beseech  his  attention,  and  said,  "  You  and  I,  doc- 
tor, have  arrived  at  that  stage  of  existence  when 
the  illusions  of  youth  have  vanished — when  all 
the  feverish  ambitions  and  vanities  have  lost  their 
sway  over  us,  and  when  we  can  look  calmly  at  the 
approach  of  death.  I  will  confess  to  you,  doctor, 
that  until  lately  I  have  not  realized  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  this  life ;  never  until  the  loss  of  my  son. 
As  I  stood  beside  his  grave  I  recalled  the  words 
of  Burke  under  similar  circumstances :  '  What 


238  MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

shadows  we  are  and  what  shadows  we  pursue  ! ' 
This  sense  of  disgust — of  intense  ennui  of  exist- 
ence is  dreadful — unbearable "What  is 

coming  ?  Where  can  I  get  light  as  to  the  future  ? 
Where  lean  for  assistance  ?  " 

This  apostrophe  was  interjected,  and  as  if  call- 
ed forth  by  the  speaker's  sorrow. 

A  pause,  and  he  resumed  : 

"  Doctor,  as  one  of  my  own  age,  and  as  a  man 
in  whose  intellect,  judgment,  and  heart  I  have 
the  fullest  confidence,  I  desire  to  make  you  my 
father-confessor.  I  crave  sympathy  and  counsel. 
Perhaps  I  should  apologize  for  burthening  you 
with  my  trials  and  sorrows,  but  pity  me — pity 
me  !  "  He  laid  his  hand  on  the  physician's  knee 
with  such  an  appealing  look,  that  the  latter  was 
touched.  "  Whom  else  can  I  consult  with — 
whom  turn  to?  I  am  at  sea  yawing  like  a  rud- 
derless ship." 

The  doctor,  who  had  been  not  a  little  surprised 
at  the  tenor  of  his  host's  conversation,  expressed 
his  condolence,  and  proffered  his  assistance  in 
any  way  that  it  might  be  found  serviceable.  Mr. 
Heath  looked  for  a  moment  as  if  he  were  about 
to  confide  something — then  checked  himself,  and 


MARTT   GILDEBSLEEVE.  239 

rising  leaned  on  the  mantle-piece  in  a  pensive 
attitude.  Dr.  "Wattletop  took  this  for  an  indica- 
tion that  the  conference  was  at  an  end,  but  the 
Monongahela  being  excellent,  he  lingered  to  re- 
fill his  glass.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Heath  again  sat 
down  and  addressed  him : 

"  You  say,  doctor,  that  you  do  not  believe  in 
eternal  punishment,  Because,  as  I  understand  you, 
it  is  irreconcilable  with  reason." 

"  Because  it  is  irreconcilable  with  the  attributes 
of  the  Almighty.  Again,  where  is  the  sense  or 
harmony,  or  even  necessity  of  it?  I  can  under- 
stand temporary  punishment,  but  not  everlasting 
punishment ;  that  would  resolve  itself  simply  into 
revenge,  a  feeling  that  the  Creator  is  incapable 
of  harboring.  No,  sir,  I  believe  there  is  a  punish- 
ment for  sin,  but  not  an  everlasting  one.  I  be- 
lieve in  the  harmony  of  Nature,  and  that  its  laws 
are  inexorable.  They  cannot  be  infringed  with- 
out suffering.  I  do  not  believe  in  the  forgiveness 
of  sins." 

"  Do  not  believe  in  the  forgiveness  of  sins ! 
Have  you  no  faith,  doctor  ? " 
•    "  Faith,  Mr.  Heath,  is  in  the  first  place  a  mat- 
ter of  cerebral  organization,  and  secondly  of  ac- 


24:0  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

cideut.  Had  you  and  I  been  born  with  crania  of 
a  certain  conformation,  of  either  Jewish,  Moham- 
medan, or  Calvinistic  parents,  we  would  have  re- 
mained in  the  faith  we  were  born  in,  whether 
Jewish,  Mohammedan,  or  Calvinistic,  to  the  end 
of  onr  days.  Had  John  Knox,  for  instance,  been 
born  a  Hindoo,  in  Benares,  he  would  have  be- 
come the  fiercest  fakir  of  them  all.  The  mass  of 
mankind  dislike  the  trouble  of  thinking,  and  fol- 
low the  paths  traced  out  for  them  in  infancy. 
Take  your  friend  Mumbie,  as  an  illustration. 
Here  is  a  man  of  average  respectability,  who 
goes  to  church  because  it  is  the  correct  thing. 
What  are  his  views,  tliiiik  you,  on  the  hypostatic 
union  I  It  is  immaterial  to  him  whether  the 
minister  preaches  from  the  Zendavesta  or  the 
Koran ;  a  certain  number  of  hours  have  to  be 
spent  listening  to  him,  and  then  he  jogs  along 
day  after  day,  in  the  same  grooves,  satisfied  if  he 
keeps  up  to  the  average  of  respectability.  Faith, 
Mr.  Heath,  as  connected  with  dogmas  and  for- 
mulas, is  of  little  consequence,  in  my  estimation. 
"Who  do  you  think  is  the  better  man, — the  one 
who  believes  in  consubstantiation,  or  the  one  who 
believes  in  transubstantiation  ?  My  good  mother, 


GILDEBSLEEV15. 

who  was  a  pions  woman,  brought  me  up  in  the 
tenets  of  the  Established  Church — hence  youth- 
ful predilections  and  associations  attach  me  to 
that  fold.  At  one  time  the  perusal  of  Paley's 
Natural  Theology,  the  Bridgewater  treatises,  and 
works  of  that  character,  shook  my  faith,  and  left 
me  a  sceptic.  Such  works,  although  intended  to 
strengthen  faith,  serve  but  to  stimulate  inquiry. 
Possessing  an  analytic  mind,  the  subtle  problems 
of  Nature  had  a  wonderful  fascination  for  me, 
and  in  trying  to  solve  them,  I  became  for  a 
time  a  proselyte  to  the  unsatisfactory  theories 
of  materialistic  philosophy,  until,  fortunately,  I 
found  in  the  teachings  of  Descartes  a  solid 
foundation  for  belief.  No  logic  can  success- 
fully assail  the  faith  that  springs  from  intui- 
tion. Now,  like  Kant,  I  never  cease  to  wonder 
at  the  starry  heavens,  but  far  more  at  the  intui- 
tive knowledge  of  God  and  the  Moral  Law." 

"The  Moral  Law,"  echoed  Mr.  Heath,  ab- 
stractedly. After  a  few  moments  he  returned, 
"  Does  not  charity  cover  a  multitude  of  sins  ? " 

"  It's  a  convenient  mantle,  surely.  As  I  said 
before,  I  do  not  believe  sins  are  ever  forgiven, 

but    bring    their    own    punishment    inevitably. 
11 


242  MAKK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

Here  in  this  world  they  certainly  do,  for  all 
sages  agree  on  this:  that  happiness  is  only  at- 
tainable through  the  practice  of  virtue,  and  if 
this  be  so,  the  converse  must  necessarily  be  true, 
and  those  who  do  not  practise  it  must  be  un- 
happy. As  the  physical  health  is  governed  by 
certain  hygienic  laws  whose  infraction  inevitably 
produces  disease,  so  is  the  spiritual  health  gov- 
erned by  the  moral  law,  whose  infraction  also  as 
certainly  brings  suffering.  To  be  good  is  to  be 
spiritually  healthy — wickedness  is  deformity  or 
disease  of  the  soul." 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  believer  in  total  deprav- 
ity?"- 

"No.  The  thing  that  reconciles  us  to  our- 
selves and  our  fellow-beings,  is  the  knowledge 
that  the  evil  we  commit  proceeds  more  from  un- 
wisdom than  from  depravity.  Man  is  far  more 
of  a  fool  than  knave." 

"  I  must  ask  your  indulgence,  doctor,  and  par- 
don for  the  liberty  I  have  taken  in  thus  catechis- 
ing you ;  but  as  I  said,  I  am  emboldened  to  do 
so  by  the  great  esteem  in  which  I  hold  you,  and 
respect  I  entertain  for  your  opinions  and  judg- 
ment. One  more  question :  If  this  idea  of  duty, 


MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE.  243 

this  Moral  Law,  as  you  term  it,  is  from  God,  why 
is  it  not  the  same  in  all  men  ?  A  savage  can  slay 
treacherously  and  sleep  peacefully  afterwards. 
Is  not  the  moral  law  the  creation  of  intellect  ?  " 

"  Ko,  intellect  merely  unfolds  and  develops  it. 
The  sway  of  the  moral  law  is  in  proportion  to  the 
quality  of  the  soul  and  the  degree  of  reason.  Its 
power  is  diminished  in  beings  of  limited  reason 
or  imperfect  souls ;  hence,  in  a  savage  or  a  trog- 
lodyte it  is  naturally  less  than  in  an  enlightened 
man — and  still  less  in  a  horse,  with  its  deficient 
reason  and  incipient  soul,"  explained  the  doctor. 

Mr.  Heath  again  rose  from  his  seat,  paced 
across  the  room,  and  for  the  first  time  helped 
himself  to  a  glass  of  spirits ;  then  turning  to  the 
doctor,  expressed,  with  forced  lightness,  his  thanks 
for  the  instructive  exposition  he  had  been  favored 
with.  At  this  intimation  the  doctor  took  his  de- 
parture, muttering  to  himself  as  he  descended 
the  staircase,  "Very  odd — I  wonder  what  the 
deuce  he  wanted  to  see  me  for  ?  Wished  me  to 
..be  his  father-confessor.  Egad!  I  think  he  as- 
sumed that  role  himself.  If  he  had  but  asked  me 
to  feel  his  pulse  or  look  at  his  tongue,  I  might 
have  clapped  a  f£e  down  against  him.  As  it  is, 


244  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

I  have  had  all  my  trouble  for  nothing.  That 
whiskey,  though,  was  excellent — excellent." 

Edna  had  been  waiting  below  to  see  the  doctor, 
and  as  he  was  about  opening  the  street-door  to 
leave,  she  approached  with  a  look'  of  concern  : 
"  Don't  you  think,  doctor,  that  father  is  better — 
don't  you  see  an  improvement  in  him  ? " 

"Yes,"  replied  Dr.  "Wattletop,  cautiously,  as 
he  drew  on  his  gloves ;  "  Yes — I  think,  I — he 
looks  better — rather  better." 

"  Oh  thank  you,  doctor ;  I'm  ever  so  much 
obliged  to  you,"  replied- Edna,  joyfully. 

"  Still,  it  will  be  just  as  well,  in  case  you  notice 
any  change  in  him  or  new  peculiarity,  to  advise 
me  cf  it.  Good-by." 


MARK  GUDERSLEEVE.  245 


XV. 

MR.  HEATH  again  sent  for  Dr.  Wattletop. 
This  time  the  interview  was  of  a  more  practical 
character.  He  desired  to  lay  before  the  physi- 
cian certain  plans  in  regard  to  the  erection  of  a 
free  hospital  for  the  county.  The  need  of  such 
an  institution  had  long  made  itself  felt,  and  Mr. 
Heath  had  determined  to  build  one  and  endow  it 
liberally.  Dr.  "Wattletop  approved  of  the  project, 
and  proffered  his  advice  and  assistance.  Besides 
the  hospital,  Mr.  Heath  announced  his  purpose  to 
erect,  also  at  his  sole  expense,  a  home  for  orphan 
and  friendless  children. 

The  doctor  listened  patiently,  and  acquiesced 
as  Mr.  Heath  communicated  his  ideas,  until  turn- 
ing abruptly  from  the  discussion  of  the  plan,  he 
said,  "  Does  it  not  strike  you  as  a  sad  commentary 
on  the  condition  of  Society,  that  such  institutions 
should  be  made  necessary  ? " 

"  How  so  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Heath. 

"  Of  course  I  am  aware  of  what  will  be  said 


246  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

about  charity,  benevolence,  generosity,  and  the 
like,  but  for  my  part  I  detest  them.  Man  seems 
to  have  a  horror  of  being  just,  and  will  adopt  any 
makeshift  instead.  Now — 

"  You  surprise  me,  doctor,"  interrupted  Mr. 
Heath,  testily  ;  "from  your  qualities  of  head  and 
heart  I  expected  different  counsel,  arid  encourage- 
ment from  you." 

"  My  qualities  of  head  and  heart,"  said  the 
doctor,  "  have  only  taught  me  this  :  that  there  is 
but  one  virtue — justice;  and  that  the  other  so- 
called  virtues  are  but  pinchbeck  ones.  From 
man's  neglect  and  aversion  to  its  practice  spring 
all  wretchedness  and  misery.  I  don't  propose, 
though,  to  be  Quixotic  in  my  propaganda,  and 
while  the  infant  mind  to-day  is  being  trained  in 
prejudice,  self-glorification,  conceit,  and  false- 
hoods of  all  kinds,  my  puny  efforts  in  advocacy 
of  a  different  education  would  avail  naught. 
Therefore,  my  dear  sir,  now  that  I  have  entered 
my  protest,  my  best  efforts  to  aid  you  in  carrying 
out  your  plans  are  at  your  service,  and  you  may 
command  me.  Only  let  me  say  this,  to  hide  noth- 
ing from  you,  that  while  what  you  propose  doing 
is  munificent,  and  as  the  world  goes,  worthy  of 


MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  247 

all  praise — springing  as  it  must  from  kind  im- 
pulses— in  my  judgment  it  is  all  valueless  as  an 
exemplar,  or  educator,  in  comparison  with  the 
performance  of  a  simple  act  of  justice." 

Mr.  Heath  seemed  to  be  very  much  displeased 
at  the  doctor's  frank  exposition  of  his  opinions, 
and  said,  as  he  gathered  up  his  papers,  "  I  am 
afraid,  Dr.  Wattletop,  that  you  and  I  diverge  too 
widely  in  our  ideas  on  the  subject  we  have  been 
discussing,  and  as  concord  is  indispensable  in  car- 
rying out  successfully  the  objects  I  have  in  view, 
I  think,  upon  the  whole,  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
avail  myself  of  your  valuable  services." 

"  As  you  please,  Mr.  Heath,  as  you  please,  sir," 
replied  the  doctor,  rising  and  taking  his  leave ;  not, 
however,  without  a  certain  disappointment,  as  the 
recollection  of  the  choice  Monongahela  he  had 
tasted  on  the  previous  visit  floated  to  his  palate. 

"  That  man,"  soliloquized  the  doctor,  on  his 
way  home,  as  he  reflected  on  his  interview  with 
Mr.  Heath,  "that  man  has  something  on  his 
mind.  Soul-sickness  of  some  kind.  What  crime 
must  he  have  committed,  to  force  him  to  atone 
"by  such  prodigal  dispensations?  What  is  the 


248  MAEK  GHDEESLEEVE. 

medicine  for  his  cure,  I  wonder?  Shall  it  be 
Sublapsarianism  or  Supralapsarianism,  or  an  elec- 
tuary compounded  of  Peedobaptism  and  Sabel- 
lianism?  Methinks  yon  stalwart  son  of  Holy 
Mother  Church,  Father  Maguire,  would  be  most 
successful  in  this  case.  The  heroic  surgery  of 
the  disciples  of  Loyola  is  of  ten  efficacious  in  such 
maladies.  Strange  that  that  honest,  consistent, 
unselfish,  truest  soldier  of  the  "Cross  should  be 
the  automaton  of  an  order  whose  cardinal  doc- 
trine is  '  passive  obedience,'  whose  aim  is  to  de- 
stroy free  thought  and  enlightenment,  and  remand 
the  world  to  the  middle  ages." 

These  latter  reflections  of  the  doctor  were 
drawn  forth  by  the  appearance  of  the  parish 
priest,  who  was  passing  by  at  the  time.  His 
reverence  was  a  good-humored,  blue-eyed  Celt, 
with  whom  the  doctor  had  occasional  polemical 
encounters,  and  sorely  tried  with  his  latitudina- 
rianism. 

Mr.  Heath  next  convoked  the  clergymen  of  the 
various  denominations  in  Belton,  and  invited 
their  co-operation  in  carrying  out  his  philanthrop- 
ic projects.  They  readily  acceded  to  his  wishes, 


MAEK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  249 

and  expressed  their  entire  concurrence  in  his 
plans.  Of  course  these  praiseworthy  acts  of  Mr. 
Heath  met  with  general  commendation,  and,  as 
they  involved  the  expenditure  of  very  large  sums 
of  money,  elicited  many  encomiums  on  his  munif- 
icence and  beneficence.  In  fact,  he  was  giving 
evidence  in  every  way  of  what  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Sniffen  called  a  "  change  of  heart."  There  was 
an  unmistakable  earnestness  now  in  his  attend- 
ance at  worship,  and  a  lowering  of  his  crest  that 
denoted  an  attempt  to  walk  in  the  paths  of  hu- 
mility. There  was  also  a  perceptible  ameliora- 
tion in  his  health,  arising  probably  from  the  di- 
version of  thought  called  forth  by  his  benevolent 
schemes.  Edna  noticed  these  gratifying  changes 
in  her  father's  physical  condition  with  joy,  and 
he  seemed  to  appreciate  her  filial  attention  and 
solicitude  by  increased  affection  for  her.  His 
sole  pleasure  now  was  in  her  society,  and  as 
warmer  days  came  he  enjoyed  long  drives  in 
company  with  her.  Edna  had  a  pair  of  fleet 
ponies  which  she  drove  like  an  experienced  whip, 
and  her  basket-phaeton  was  often  seen  on  golden 
afternoons  scouring  along  the  banks  of  the  beau- 
tiful Passaic,  or  through  the  wooded  hills  of 
11* 


250  MARK  GILDEE6LEEVE. 

Pompton,  with  her  father  languidly  reclining  be- 
side her,  and  a  dapper  groom  in  the  rumble. 

Qne  evening,  as  they  were  returning  home 
from  a  drive,  and  were  within  a  few  rods  of 
the  gateway,  a  man  who  had  been  lying  on  the 
sward  by  the  road-side  staggered  to  his  feet,  and 
motioned  as  if  he  wished  to  speak  to  them.  He 
was  a  rough  fellow,  a  tramp,  and  evidently  in- 
toxicated. Edna,  somewhat  alarmed,  would 
have  whipped  up  the  ponies,  but  the  man  stood 
in  front  of  them  gesticulating,  and  for  fear  of 
hurting  him,  she  drew  in  the  reins  and  stopped. 
The  groom,  leaping  from  his  seat,  was  about  to 
deal  harshly  with  the  interloper,  when  at  a  sign 
from  his  master  he  desisted.  The  fellow,  with  an 
unsteady  gait,  approached  Mr.  Heath,  and  held 
out  his  hand,  saying:  "I  told  'em,  old  man,  I 
told  'em  wanted  to  see  you.  That  chap  at  the 
gate  over  there  wouldn't  let  me  in.  Told  'im 
you  was  my  friend — best  friend  ever  had  in  the 
world — ain't  that  so,  old  man  ?  How  you  been, 
old  top— all  right,  eh  ?  " 

The  under-gardener,  who  acted  as  lodge-keeper, 
here  advanced,  and  explained  that  the  man  had 
made  several  attempts  to  force  himself  in  the 


GUDEESLEEYE.  251 


grounds,  saying  that  he  was  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Heath,  and  wished  to  see  him  on  business. 

"  Sho  I  did  —  sho  I  did  —  'portant  business,  I 
said,  'portant  business,  old  man,"  repeated  the 
fellow. 

At  the  apparition  of  this  stranger,  Mr.  Heath's 
features  became  livid  —  his  lingers  grasped  the 
side  of  the  phaeton  nervously,  and  for  a  moment 
he  seemed  .unable  to  utter  a  word.  Edna  fortu- 
nately was  too  much  occupied  in  watching  the 
intruder  and  cause  gf  all  the  trouble,  to  heed  her 
father's  agitation,  while  he  with  a  strong  effort 
collected  himself. 

"  Wouldn't  b'lieve  me  —  told  'em  you  was  my 
friend  —  best  friend,  eh,  old  man  ?  That's  so, 
•  that's  so,"  repeated  the  man  with  drunken  per- 
sistency, while  Mr.  Heath  alighting,  bade  Edna 
rather  peremptorily  to  drive  on,  and  with  a  hasty 
gesture  waved  the  gardener  away. 

The  stranger  was  a  red-bearded  man  of  powerful 
build,  within  about  ten  years  of  Mr.  Heath's  age. 
His  aspect  was  coarse  and  vulgar,  and  his  gar- 
ments worn  and  filthy.  Judging  from  the  tattooing 
on  the  backs  of  his  hands,  and  his  red,  rugose 
neck,  he  was  probably  a  seafarer.  Mr.  Heath 


252  MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

led  him,  not  without  some  trouble,  up  to  the 
house  and  into  the  library,  where  they  remained 
closeted  together  all  the  evening.  Meals  were 
brought  up  to  them,  and  the  household  saw  no 
more  of  the  man,  for  h6  apparently  disappeared 
before  the  next  morning. 

Although  Edna  was  not  a  little  surprised  at 
this  occurrence,  and  at  her  father's  bearing  to- 
wards the  stranger,  she  made  no  allusion  to  him, 
and  Mr.  Heath  anticipated  any  remarks  from  his 
sister  by  saying  that  the  man  was  an  unfortu- 
nate being  with  a  family  dependent  upon  him 
for  support,  whom  he  had  several  times  as- 
sisted, and  who  presumed  to  return.  "  I  doubt 
whether  it  is  really  a  charity  to  help  such  peo- 
ple," added  Mr  Heath,  with  affected  carelessness. 
"  Still  one  cannot  resist  these  appeals,  especially 
when  an  innocent  family  of  small  children  is 
likely  to  suffer,  for  a  slave  to  drink  seldom  re- 
forms." . 

"  Has  he  a  large  family  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Apple- 
gate. 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  believe  so,"  replied  Mr.  Heath, 
manifesting  annoyance  at  being  questioned.  "  I 
know  nothing  at  all  about  him  but  what  he  says." 


GILDERSLEEVE.  253 


This  closed  the  conversation  on  that  subject, 
but  Mr.  Heath's  weak  nerves  were  so  shaken  by 
the  incident,  that  for  several  days  after  he  re- 
mained at  home,  and  refused  any  longer  to  ac- 
company his  daughter  in  her  walks  or  rides.  A 
fortnight  or  so  later,  Mrs.  Applegate,  who  was 
reading  the  newspaper,  incidentally  remarked  : 

"  I  see  that  they  have  caught  that  Peterson, 
the  pirate." 

Mr.  Heath,  who  was  reclining  in  an  easy-chair, 
started  as  if  a  bolt  had  struck  him.  "  What  ! 
Who  ?  "  he  exclaimed. 

"Dear  me,  Rufus,  how  you  startled  ineT  I 
merely  said  that  that  dreadful  murderer  that  they 
called  Peterson,  the  pirate,  and  who  escaped 
from  jail,  has  been  caught.  .  You  must  remember 
the  time  there  was  about  it.  It  was  a  little  after 
John's  death.  I  remember  there  was  a  story  go- 
ing around  that  his  name  was  not  Peterson,  but 
Klove,  and  that  he  formerly  lived  in  Belton. 
Old  Mrs.  Cosgrove  told  me  then  that  she  remem- 
bered him  very  well,  and  that  his  mother  was  a 
washerwoman.  She  said,  too,  that  he  was  a  thief 
when  a  boy,  and  ran  away  to  sea  after  robbing 
his  master." 


254  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

"  Mrs.  Cosgrove  is  a  silly  gossip,  Susan,"  said 

Mr.  Heath,  impatiently.     "  The  boy  was  not  a 

thief." 

"  Indeed — why,  Ruf  us,  I  heard  from — " 

"  Never  rnind  ;  it's  of  no  consequence,  and  we 

will    not    argue  the    matter,"   interrupted  Mr. 

Heath.     "  Let  me  look  at  the  paper  a  moment." 

In  order  to  render  this  colloquy  more  intelli- 
gible, it  will  be  necessary  to  state  that  about  eight 
or  nine  months  previously  the  public  mind  was 
intensely  agitated  and  shocked  by  the  details  of  a 
murder  of  a  very  atrocious  character.  The  crime 
had  been  committed  by  a  sailor  who  had  shipped 
for  a  short  voyage  on  a  small  coaster.  When  at 
sea  he  had  slain  the  captain,  mate,  and  cook,  and 
then  running  the  craft  near  shore,  had  scuttled 
her,  leaving  in  the  yawl  with  a  small  sum  of 
money  belonging  to  the  captain,  to  obtain  which 
had  been  the  sole  motive  of  the  iriple  murder. 
Landing  on  the  sea-coast  a  few  miles  below 
Sandy  Hook,  the  murderer  had  been  captured  by 
some  fishermen,  who  had  watched  his  suspicious 
movements.  The  smack,  instead  of  sinking,  was 
found  adrift,  with  the  proofs  of  the  horrid  deed 


MARK   GHDEESLEEVE.  255 

still  fresh  and  visible.  The  guilt  seemed,  there- 
fore, plainly  fixed  on  the  accused,  and  there  was 
but  little  doubt  that  the  trial  would  result  in  his 
conviction.  Still  the  evidence  against  him  was 
but  circumstantial,  and  his  counsel,  a  man  of 
ability,  made  strenuous  and  persistent  efforts  to 
clear  him.  In  the  progress  of  the  case,  it  came 
out  that  the  prisoner  was  an  old  and  hardened 
desperado,  who  had  been  incarcerated  many  times 
in  various  countries  for  misdemeanors  of  every 
degree.  It  was  furthermore  discovered  that  he 
had  given  to  the  court  an  assumed  name,  and 
that  his  tme  one  was  Klove,  and  native  place 
Belton.  This  revelation,  naturally  enough,  cre- 
ated some  excitement  among  the  older  inhabitants 
of  that  town,  who  still  remembered  Klove  as  a 
boy  of  fourteen,  who  had  been  forced  to  leave  the 
place  in  consequence  of  an  accusation  of  theft. 
This  charge,  although  not  proven, at  the  time, 
was  now  resurrected^  and  brought  up  to  his  prej- 
udice as  an  illustration  of  how  youthful  depravity 
would  lead  eventually  to  the  gravest  and  blackest 
crimes.  Mr.  Ileath,  who  was  a  clerk  at  the  time 
Klove  was  living  in  Belton,  and  had  a  distinct 
recollection  of  him,  was  naturally  much  inter- 


256  MAKE  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

ested  in  the  progress  of  his  trial,  and  read  and 
re-read  the  reports  of  it  as  they  appeared  in  the 
newspapers,  with  an  absorbing  interest.  In  sin- 
gular contrast  was  his  dislike  to  having  the  sub- 
ject mentioned  or  talked  about  in  his  family. 
Mrs.  Applegate,  who  had  a  predilection  for  the 
horrible,  was  full  of  the  murder,  and  discussed 
it  at  every  meal,  much  to  her  brother's  annoy- 
ance. As  the  trial  drew  near  its  close,  Mr.  Heath 
took  a  short  trip,  being  absent  about  a  week. 
While  he  was  away,  the  trial,  which  was  held  at 
Freehold,  came  to  an  end ;  and,  in  spite  of  the 
skilful  efforts  to  exculpate  him,  the  prisoner  was 
convicted.  The  case  was  too  clear  to  admit  of 
the  slightest  doubt,  and  the  jury  found  him  guilty 
of  murder.  His  lawyer  tried  strenuously  to  ob- 
tain a  new  trial,  but  without  avail,  and  he  was 
remanded  for  sentence. 

The  very  next  night  Klove  broke  jail — a  bar 
of  the  window  of  his  cell  had  been  wrenched 
out,  and  watch-spring  saws  and  files  were  found 
lying  about,  conveying  the  impression  that  he 
had  received  assistance.  A  turnkey  was  sus- 
pected of  complicity  and  dismissed,  although  the 
proof  was  hardly  sufficient  to  implicate  him.  It 


MAKK  GILDEESLEEVE.  257 

was  this  escaped  pirate — this  murderer  whose  re- 
capture, after  having  eluded  the  officers  of  jus- 
tice for  several  months,  when  announced  by  Mrs. 
Applegate  to  her  brother,  produced  such  a  shock 
to  the  latter's  feelings.  The  fellow,  it  appeared, 
instead  of  fleeing  to  some  distant  land,  had  re- 
paired to  his  former  low  haunts  in  New  York, 
and  spent  his  time  in  idleness  and  carousing,  for 
he  was  apparently  well  supplied  with  money. 
While  in  liquor  and  in  an  unguarded  moment, 
he  had  betrayed  himself  by  some  compromising 
remark,  which,  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
police,  caused  him  to  be  speedily  secured,  and  on 
a  requisition  from  the  Governor  of  New  Jersey, 
conveyed  back  to  his  quarters  in  the  county  jail 
at  Freehold.  He  was  now  placed  in  double 
irons,  and  kept  so  strictly  guarded  day  and  night 
as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  a  second  evasion. 

Soon  after  Klove's  recapture,  Mr.  Heath  again 
started  on  a  mysterious  journey.  During  his  ab- 
sence the  news  came  that  strong  efforts  were  be- 
ing made  by  some  influential  person  to  obtain  a 
pardon  for  Klove  from  the  Governor.  To  ac- 
count for  these  singular  manifestations  in  behalf 


258  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

of  so  great  a  criminal,  it  was  rumored  and  popu- 
larly believed  that  Klove  was  not  Klove,  but  the 
losel  son  of  a  venerable  bishop  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  distinguished  alike  for  piety  and  learning, 
who  was  naturally  anxious  to  save  his  offspring 
from  the  disgraceful,  though  well-merited,  death 
of  a  felon.  Nothing  transpired,  however,  to  sus- 
tain this  report,  which  was  simply  a  figment  of 
the  imagination,  due,  doubtless,  to  the  popular 
love  for  the  marvellous.  Meanwhile  Klove  had 
been  sentenced  to  death,  and  lay  in  prison  await- 
ing his  doom. 

A  fortnight  or  so  elapsed  before  Mr.  Ileath 
returned.  Edna  saw  at  a  glance  that  there  was 
a  change  for  the  worse  in  her  father's  condition. 
He  was  evidently  laboring  under  a  recurrence  of 
one  of  his  melancholic  spells,  with  aggravated 
symptoms.  His  form  had  wasted,  and  his  coun- 
tenance become  haggard.  In  short,  he  plainly 
exhibited  the  signs  of  one  borne  down  by  a  great 
weight  of  grief.  To  his  daughter's  affectionate 
inquiries,  he  replied  only  in  monosyllables,  and 
repaired  immediately  to  his  apartments.  Edna 
consulted  with  her  aunt,  and  Dr.  "Wattletop  was 
again  summoned ;  but  Mr.  Heath  peremptorily 


GUDEBSLEEVE.  259 


refused  to  see  him  or  any  other  physician,  and 
the  two  ladies  were  left  a  prey  to  their  apprehen- 
sions. 

Mr.  Heath's  condition  excited  the  doctor's  pro- 
fessional curiosity.  It  was  an  abtruse  physiolog- 
ical problem,  and  spurred  his  zeal.  By  dint  of 
patient  investigation,  and  consultation  with  the 
family,  he  discovered  the  great  interest  Mr. 
Heath  took  in  the  pirate  Klove.  He  questioned 
the  groom  and  gardener  in  relation  to  the  stran- 
ger who  had  been  harbored  by  Mr.  Heath,  and  by 
comparing  their  descriptions  with  others,  came  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  mysterious  visitor  and 
Klove  were  one  and  the  same  man.  To  satisfy 
himself  clearly  on  that  point  and  obtain  a  further 
clue  to  this  singular  affair,  he  proceeded  to  Free- 
hold. Here  he  was  not  only  confirmed  in  his 
conclusions,  but  learned,  furthermore,  that  a  gen- 
tleman, a  stranger,  answering  closely  to  a  descrip- 
tion of  Mr.  Heath,  had  been  noticed  in  attendance 
at  the  trial,  and  in  frequent  consultation  with  the 
prisoner's  lawyer. 

There  was  no  longer  any  doubt  in  the  doctor's 
mind  of  the  existence  of  some  connection  or  in- 
timacy between  the  pirate  and  the  patrician, 


2.60  MAKE   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

which  the  mere  fact  of  the  former's  having  once 
lived  in  Belton  would  scarcely  account  for. 
lie  was  inclined  to  suspect  a  secret  tie  of  kinship, 
had  it  not  been  clearly  established  at  the  trial 
that  Klove  was  born  in  Germany,  and  brought  to 
the  United  States  in  childhood  by  his  parents. 
Still  cudgelling  his  brains  for  a  plausible  theory 
to  account  for  Mr.  Heath's  singular  proceedings, 
he  was  at  length  forced  to  refer  them  to  some 
phase  of  hypochondria. 

Mrs.  Applegate  was  decidedly  of  the  opinion, 
now,  that  her  brother  was  going  out  of  his  mind. 
She  had  often  heard  of  such  cases,  she  informed 
Dr.  Wattletop.  Mr.  Applegate  had  a  friend  who 
was  taken  so,  though,  to  be  sure,  his  trouble  arose 
from  the  Millerite  excitement,  and  fear  of  the 
world's  coming  to  an  end.  "Of  course  Rufus 
has  no  dread  of  that  kind  or  anything  of  the  sort, 
but  I  do  think  and  believe  that  it  all  grows  out  of 
his  son's  death,  and  nothing  else." 

"Do  you  really  think  that,  he  is  so  much 
affected  by  his  son's  death  ? "  asked  the  doctor, 
with  an  incredulous  expression. 

"  I  don't  think  he  has  been  the  same  man  since. 
To  be  sure  he  didn't  take  on  so  much  at  first,  and 


MAKE   GILDERSLEETE.  261 

didn't  seem  to  realize  it  fully ;  but  I  believe  he 
feels  it  more  and  more,  and  it  is  that  that  has 
made  him  so  different  from  what  he  used  to  be. 
Poor  Edna !  dear  me,  she  worries  so  about  her 
father,  and  I'm  very  much  afraid  she'll  fall  sick 
if  this  continues.  Her  room  is  near  his,  and  she 
says  she  hears  him  pacing  the  floor  at  all  hours  of 
the  night." 

"  Insomnia,  eh  ? " 

"  And  he  talks  to  himself  so  often ;  and  then 
again,  if  you  speak  to  him,  or  question  him,  he 
looks  at  you  so  vacantly  without  replying." 

Precursory  sign  of  cerebral  disease,  thought 
the  doctor. 

"  It's  dreadful — dreadful !  "  continued  Mrs. 
Applegate.  "  I  can't  help  but  think  sometimes 
that  Rufus  is  losing  his  senses,  and  yet  such  a 
thing  as  insanity  was  never  known  in  our  family." 

Dr.  Wattletop  had  arrived  at  a  somewhat  sim- 
ilar conclusion.  He  believed  Mr.  Heath's  dis- 
ease was  taking  the  form  of  monomania,  brought 
about  by  the  combined  effects  of  disappointment 
and  grief  on  an  overwrought  brain.  In  such  a 
condition  the  distracted  mind  was  not  only  read- 
ily affected  by  any  striking  or  impressive  event, 


262  MAEK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

but  apt  to  identify  itself  therewith  in  some  bi- 
zarre manner. 

"  It  is  very  important  in  Mr.  Heath's  present 
state,  Mrs.  Applegate,  that  we  should  keep  his 
mind  as  free  as  possible  from  any  agitation.  No 
exciting  news  should  reach  him.  If  it  were  possi- 
ble to  keep  the  newspapers  from  him,  it  would  be 
well ;  but  I  presume  that  is  out  of  the  question. 
However,  be  careful  and  vigilant.  I  think  he 
needs  rest  and  tranquillity  more  than  anything 
else  now.  If  he  would  only  consent  to  see  me,  and 
if  I  could  only  interrogate  him  a  little,  I  might 
form  a  more. intelligent  opinion  of  his  condition. 
At  the  last  interview  I  had  with  him,  we  had  an 
interchange  of  opinions  on  subjects  connected 
with  certain  plans  of  his,  and  I  don't  think  he 
was  pleased  with  my  comments  on  them;  so  I 
don't  know  how  far  my  attendance  on  him  would 
be  acceptable  now." 

"  He  won't  hear  of  any  physician's  being  spoken 
to  about  him.  I  have  tried  my  utmost,  and  Edna 
has  pleaded  ;  but  he's  as  obstinate  as  can  be,  and 
won't  listen  to  us,"  said  Mrs.  Applegate. 

"  Sorry.  As^  it  is,  I  am  to  a  certain  extent 
groping  in  the  dark,  and  under  the  circumstances, 


MARK   GILDKRSLEEVE.  263 

as  you  can  readily  understand,  it  is  very  difficult 
to  prescribe  a  course  of  treatment  with  any  de- 
gree of  confidence.  I  don't  know  what  else  I 
can  say  or  recommend  just  now.  As  I  said,  pre- 
vent as  far  as  possible  any  vexatious,  exciting,  or 
annoying  news  from  reaching  him.  Note  every 
symptom,  and  advise  me." 

Such  commonplace  advice  was  doubtless  all 
that  the  physician  could  offer,  as  Mr.  Heath 
stubbornly  refused  to  see  him  or  any  other  medi- 
cal man,  and  indeed,  had  given  himself  up  to 
such  complete  isolation,  as  to  deny  audience  even 
to  his  business  agent,  and  to  the  architect  in 
charge  of  the  construction  of  the  Hospital  and 
the  Home,  so  that  the  building  of  those  institu- 
tions was  now  perforce  suspended.  He  even  be- 
gan to  evince  an  aversion  to  the  society  of  his 
family,  and  to  avoid  meeting  them,  took  his 
meals  by  himself  in  his  own  apartments. 


264:  MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE. 


XVI. 

ONE  Friday  Klove  was  hanged. 

The  public  prints  of  the  following  day  were 
filled  with  details  of  the  occurrence,  and  Mrs. 
Applegate,  mindful  of  the  doctor's  injunctions, 
strove  to  keep  her  brother  from  reading  them. 
A  futile  effort,  though,  for  Mr.  Heath,  on  find- 
ing that  the  newspapers  were  not  brought  to  him 
at  the  usual  time,  rang  the  bell  violently,  and 
rated  the  servant  soundly  for  the  omission. 

The  inagnifico  was  in  his  chamber,  and  looked 
as  aged  as  a  man  of  eighty.  His  hair  and  beard 
had  turned  white,  his  eyes  were  cavernous  and 
feverishly  bright.  Roused  momentarily  by  the 
incident  just  mentioned,  he  returned  to  his  seat 
in  an  arm-chair  near  the  fire,  where,  wrapped  in 
a  dressing-gown,  he  had  probably  passed  the 
night,  as  his  couch  was  undisturbed.  He  soon 
relapsed  into  a  gloomy  meditation,  holding  in  his 
hands  the  folded  newspaper,  which  he  appar- 
ently hesitated  and  dreaded  to  read.  Suddenly, 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  265 

with  an  effort,  his  fingers  spread  the  sheet  open, 
and  he  scanned  the  columns  rapidly  until  his 
eyes  rested  on  the  account  of  Klove's  execution. 
To  an  unusually  long  description  of  the  horrible 
affair  was  appended  what  purported  to  be  the 
confession  of  the  malefactor,  made  to  the  clergy- 
man in  attendance,  and  reported  verbatim.  It 
ran  thus : 

CONFESSION   OF  KLOVE,   THE  PIRATE. 

When  I  was  a  boy  I  lived  in  Belton,  in  this 
State.  My  mother  was  a  widow,  for  my  father 
died  the  year  after  we  came  to  this  country  from 
Germany.  There  were  two  of  us  children,  me 
and  a  girl.  My  mother  did  washing  for  a  liv- 
ing, and  I  worked  for  a  man  named  Cook,  who 
was  very  hard  to  get  along  with,  and  to  him  I  lay 
all  my  troubles.  I  suppose  I  must  forgive  every- 
body now,  as  I  hope  to  be  forgiven  myself,  but 
it's  mighty  hard  to  let  up  on  him.  Now  I  ain't 
a-going  to  say  that  I  didn't  kill  the  men  aboard, 
the  smack,  and  that  I  am  unjustly  sentenced  to 
die ;  but  I  say  this,  and  I  believe,  as  I  hope  for 
mercy  hereafter,  that  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the 

unjust  way  in  which  I  was  treated  when  I  was  a 
12 


266  MA-mr   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

boy,  by  that  man,  I  wouldn't  be  here  now.  The 
way  of  it  all  was  this :  One  day  Cook  sent  me 
with  some  money  to  pay  a  bill  at  the  store.  I 
didn't  know  how  much  there  was,  but  when  the 
store-keeper  counted  it  he  said  it  ran  short  ten 
dollars.  When .  I  went  back  to  Cook  and  told 
him,  he  got  angry,  and  said  he  had  given  me  the 
right  sum,  and  I  must  have  stolen  the  difference. 
Now  he  had  a  grudge  against  me,  and  I  believe 
he  never  gave  me  the  money,  but  wanted  to  get 
me  into  trouble.  I  knew  I  couldn't  have  lost  it, 
and  the  shop-keeper  counted  it  before  my  eyes, 
and  he  couldn't  have  taken  it.  Howsomever, 
Cook  swore  I  stole  the  money,  and  they  locked 
me  up.  They  didn't  keep  me  long,  though,  for 
they  couldn't  bring  any  proof,  and  was  obliged  to 
let  me  off.  But  I  couldn't  stay  in  Belton  after 
that,  for  no  one  would  employ  me,  and  they  all 
shunned  me  for  a  thief.  So  I  left  the  place  and 
went  to  New  York,  but  as  I  was  a  stranger  there, 
and  didn't  know  any  one,  I  couldn't  find  work. 
Then  I  shipped  for  a  three  years'  cruise,  for  I 
thought  by  that  time  all  would  be  forgot,  and  I 
could  go  back  home.  As.  bad  luck  would  have  it, 
my  shipmates  found  out  that  I  had  been  locked 


MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  267 

up  for  thieving,  and  when  one  of  the  crew  had 
his  chest  broken  open,  and  some  things  missing, 
they  laid  it  to  me.  I  was  innocent,  but  they 
wouldn't  believe  it,  and  the  character  I  had  got 
went  against  me,  and  I  wasn't  spared  a  bit.  The 
captain  abused  me,  the  mate  rope's-ended  me,  and 
the  men  kicked  me  and  called  me  jail-bird,  until 
I  was  more  miserable  than  a  dog.  My  whole  feel- 
ings were  changed.  I  got  bitter  and  revengeful, 
and  if  it  hadn't  been  that  I  couldn't  get  away  I 
would  have  knived  some  of  my  shipmates.  When 
the  vessel  touched  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  I  ran 
away  and  knocked  about  with  the  beach-combers, 
a  wicked  set  of  outcasts,  until  I  became  bad  as  any 
of  them.  I  lived  among  the  Islands  several  years. 
I  shipped  again,  ran  down  to  Valparaiso,  and 
made  several  voyages  up  and  down  the  coast. 
One  day  I  got  into  a  drunken  row  in  a  pulqueria, 
and  stabbed  a  Chilian.  This  caused  me  to  be 
sent  to  work  in  the  mines  as  a  convict.  I  got 
away  from  there  after  staying  three  years  and 
shipped  in  a  French  ship  to  Bordeaux,  and  from 
there  I  got  to  New  York.  I  hadn't  been  in  the 
States  for  ten  years,  and  all  that  time  I  hadn't 
heard  anything  from  my  folks.  I  had  become  so 


268  MART?   GILDERSLEEVE. 

reckless  as  to  have  no  wish  to  see  any  of  them. 
"When  in  New  York  I  went  one  night  to  a  dance- 
house  in  Cherry  Street,  and  there  among  the 
women  I  found  my  sister.  We  didn't  know  each 
other  at  first,  but  I  discovered  her  by  a  queer 
scar  on  her  neck,  which  she  got  from  a  burn 
when  a  child.  After  questioning  her,  I  found 
out  that  my  mother  took  on  so  about  me  that  she 
left  Belton  soon  after  I  did,  and  went  to  New 
York.  There  she  fell  sick,  and  died  in  want,  and 
there  was  my  sister  a  degraded  creature.  AVhat 
little  good  was  left  in  me  was  turned  by  this 
sight  into  bad,  and  I  Swore  to  be  even  with  a 
world  that  had  been  so  unjust  to  me  and  mine. 
The  old  feeling  of  vengeance  rose  up  in  my 
breast — the  devil  got  hold  of  me,  and  I  thought 
of  Cook.  That  night  I  started  off  to  find  him, 
and  went  to  Belton.  I  hung  around  there  till  I 
found  out  he  was  dead  and  gone  some  years.  If 
he  had  been  living  I  would  have  killed  him,  sure. 
All  that's  wrong,  I  know,  but  I  couldn't  help  it. 
Then  I  felt  just  like  waging  war  on  all  the  world. 
I  went  to  California,  and  kept  a  drinking  shop  on 
what  they  called  the  Barbary  coast,  where  I  used 
to  rob  miners.  Finally  I  shot  one  that  showed 


269 


fight,  and  the  Vigilance  Committee  drove  me  off, 
and  I  came  back  to  the  States  and  went  to  New 
Orleans,  staid  awhile,  and  came  north.  I  knocked 
around  New  York  for  a  time,  and  finally  shipped 
on  the  smack,  where  I  committed  the  deed  that's 
brought  me  here.  The  world  has  got  the  best  of 
me  at  last,  and  it  was  very  wrong  and  sinful  for 
me  to  kill  the  men,  and  it  is  right  that  I  should 
suffer  for  it  and  be  hung ;  I  ain't  a-going  to  deny 
that ;  but  I  know  this  and  repeat  it,  that  if  I  had 
been  treated  right  when  a  boy,  if  I  hadn't  been 
accused  of  stealing  when  I  was  innocent,  I 
wouldn't  be  here  now,  and  my  sister  wouldn't 
have  been  ruined.  We  might  have  been  as 
happy  and  as  good  as  any,  so  let  Almighty  God 
judge.  Before  I  go  I  want  to  say  this:  that  in 
the  trial  I  was  fairly  treated,  and  I  want  to  pub- 
licly thank  all  those  people  who  were  so  kind  to 
me.  One  gentleman  has  been  very  good  to  me, 
did  all  he  could  to  help  me,  and  I  can't  be  too 
grateful  to  him.  He  happened  just  to  have  re- 
membered me  when  I  was  a  boy  and  lived  in 
Belton,  and  to  this  kind  and  benevolent  man,  I 
say,  may  God  bless  him  and  reward  him." 


270  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

Rufus  Heath  read  those  lines  with  dilated  eyes 
and  shortened  breath,  like  one  undergoing  the 
rack.  When  he  had  finished,  he  let  the  paper 
drop  and  uttered  a  deep  groan.  His  head  sank 
back  on  his  chair,  and  he  pressed  his  hands  over 
his  temples  and  brow  as  if  to  smother  distract- 
ing thoughts.  He  remained  thus  for  some  time, 
until  a  light  hand  was  placed  on  his  shoulder, 
when  he  started  as  if  it  had  been  a  blow. 

The  intruder  was  Edna,  who,  having  knocked 
at  the  door  and  receiving  no  reply,  had  entered 
the  room  with  some  anxiety.  "  Father,  dear  fa- 
ther, how  you  frighten  me !  What  ails  you  ? 
Are  you  in  pain  ? "  exclaimed  she,  alarmed  at  his 
wild  aspect.  "Do  tell  me,  please  tell  me,  what  is. 
the  matter?" 

"  Matter — matter,"  repeated  Mr.  Heath  abstract- 
edly, as  he  rose  and  walked  towards  the  window. 
"  No — no — nothing,  child,  nothing.  Why  do  you 
— Ring  the  bell  for  James  and  leave  me — leave 
me,  I  tell  you.  I  have  business  to  occupy  me." 
He  was  rattling  his  fingers  nervously  on  the 
window-panes  as  he  spoke,  and  looking  vacantly 
out.  His  daughter  strove  to  draw  him  aside,  and 
looking  in  his  face  asked  anxiously  if  she  might 


MAKK  QILDEESLEEYB.  271 

be  permitted  to  send  for  a  physician.  "  I'm  sure 
there's  something  the  matter  with  you — you  look 
so  very,  very  strange.  Do  please,  father,  may 
I?" 

"No,  no,.no!  Leave  me,  Edna,  and  do  as  I 
bid  you."  She  obeyed,  and  Mr.  Heath  made  a 
struggle  to  regain  his  self-possession.  When  the 
servant  came,  he  directed  him  to  bring  a  decan- 
ter of  brandy.  As  soon  as  it  was  brought,  with 
a  trembling  hand  he  poured  out  a  tumblerful 
and  gulped  it  down.  It  seemed  to  affect  him  no 
more  than  so  much  water,  and  pacing  the  room, 
he  forced  a  laugh  as  he  soliloquized:  "Idiot, 
idiot,  and  threefold  fool !  What  is  it  to  me  that 
this  vagabond  and  ruffian  has  met  his  deserts? 
Nothing,  surely  nothing.  Then  why  should  I 
worry  about  it?  Why  should  I  be  tormented 
and  maddened  by  it  ?  Those  who  murder  must 
expect  to  be  hung.  A  man  is  responsible  only 
for  his  own  crimes — -the  crimes  he  himself  com- 
mits, and  surely  none  other,  none  other.  What  a 
monstrous,  cruel,  wicked  doctrine  it  would  be 
that  would  hold  men  to  account  for  the  remote 
and  indirect  consequences  of  trivial  and  common- 
place acts.  Skilful  lawyers  cheat  justice  every 


272  MATCTT   GILDERSLEEVE. 

day;  thousands  and  thousands  of  villains  have 
been  rescued  from  the  clutches  of  the  law  by 
their  paid  advocates,  and  set  loose  on  society, 
to  again  plunder  and  kill.  As  well  hold  these 
advocates  responsible  for  the  crimes  subsequent- 
ly committed  by  their  clients,  as  to  tax  me  with 
— pshaw !  it's  too  absurd  to  deserve  a  moment's 
thought.  "What  a  simpleton  I  am  to  quake  like 
a  puny  child  because  a  low  ruffian  meets  his 
merited  fate !  How  ridiculous — absurd — prepos- 
terous !  No,  no ;  I  am  getting  old  and  childish 
— old  and  childish,"  he  continued  to  croon,  until 
interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  a  servant  with 
luncheon,  who  was  quickly  bidden  to  withdraw. 

The  luncheon  remained  untouched. 

Again  in  the  arm-chair,  and  staring  with  a 
look  of  despair  at  the  fire;  again  torturing 
thoughts  seethe  in  his  brain.  The  pirate  Klove 
was  hung  yesterday  for  murder.  What  a  blood- 
stained desperado  he  was,  and  what  a  life  he  had 
led !  Where  was  his  soul  now  ?  Who  would  ex- 
change places  -with, him  to  gain  the  whole  world? 
And  all  this  had  arisen,  he  said,  from  the  dis- 
•  honesty  of  some  one  who  had  caused  him  to  be 
unjustly  accused  of  stealing  a  small  sum  of 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  273 

money.  "What  a  flimsy  and  shameless  apology ! 
What  an  atrocious  attempt  to  shift  the  responsi- 
bility of  hellish  deeds  to  other  shoulders ;  to  drag 
some  innocent  person  to  everlasting  perdition 
with  him !  Suppose  Cook,  his  employer,  had 
really  given  him  the  money,  and  had  no  intention 
of  wrongfully  accusing  him — what  then?  Per- 
haps the  money  was  lost,  and  if  so,  if  any  one 
had  found  it  they  would  naturally  have  kept  it. 
Of  course,  anybody  would  do  that.  It's  a  very 
common  thing  for  persons  to  do.  It  is  an  every- 
day .occurrence.  No  one  but  a  fool  would  act 
otherwise.  Ten  dollars  is  but  a  trifle,  and  to  at- 
tribute to  the  loss  of  a  sum  so  paltry  such  ter- 
rible, awful  consequences,  is  simply  ridiculous. 
But  the  boy  should  not  have  been  allowed  to  rest 
under  the  imputation  of  having  stolen  it.  He 
should  have  been  saved  from  arrest.  They  dis- 
charged him — yes,  they  discharged  ,hirn.  He 
was  not  long  imprisoned.  True,  but  he  should 
have  been  cleared  from  suspicion  at  any  cost — 
any  cost !  His  innocence  proclaimed  in  thunder 
tones  far  and  wide !  To  omit  that  was  wrong, 
fearfully,  bitterly  wrong !  Not  doing  so,  forced 

him  to  leave  home  in  disgrace;   made  him  an 
12*  * 


274:  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

t 

outcast,  killed  his  mother,  drove  his  sister  to 

ehaine.    Horror! 

And  he  thanked  the  kind  gentle- 
man who  had  been  so  good  to  him,  and  with  his 
dying  breath,  bade  God  bless  and  reward  him ! 
"  O  Christ,  help — help  me ! " 

These  last  words  escaped  from  Mr.  Heath  in  a 
lacerating  cry.  He  pressed  his  hands  to  his  face 
as  if  to  shut  out  some  horrifying  sight,  and  re- 
mained so  until  he  gradually  fell  into  a  dreamy 
stupor.  The  excited  mind  ceased  to  work,  and 
became  numb.  Luminous  images  floated  before 
his  mental  vision,  and  kaleidoscopic  intermin- 
glings  of  uncouth  objects  and  faces. 

Then  the  wearied  and  distracted  brain  lapsed 
into  a  feverish  slumber — a  slumber  alive  with 
fearful  visions.  He  dreamt  he  was  in  a  prison- 
cell.  It  was  night,  and  the  grated  door  swung 
open  to  a^init  the  jailer  and  hangman.  They 
pinioned  him,  and  led  him  out  to  the  scaffold. 
At  the  foot  of  the  gallows  lay  a  coffin,  containing 
the  corpse  of  Klove,  with  horribly  distorted  feat- 
ures. The  hangman  was  about  pulling  a  cap  over 
his  face,  when  Mr.  Heath  awoke  with  trembling 
limbs,  and  a  cold  sweat  starting  from  every  pore. 


MAEK   GHDEKSLEEVE.  275 

It  was  evening,  for  he  had  lain  in  that  stupor 
and  sleep  for  hours.  Again  he  resorted  to  the 
brandy  to  dissipate  the  lingering  impressions 
of  the  frightful  nightmare,  and  then  rang  the 
bell.  The  servant  appeared,  and  desired  to  know 
what  his  master  wanted.  Nothing — nothing. 
Yes,  to  have  light  in  the  library — he  would  read. 
Did  Mr.  Heath  wish  to  have  dinner  brought  up 
to  him  ?  No,  no ;  leave  me — leave  me.  The  man 
lit  the  gas  in  the  library,  replenished  the  grate, 
and  left. 

The  library  was  the  room  adjoining  Mr. 
Heath's,  and  thither  he  went.  He  took  a  volume 
from  a  shelf,  and  returned  to  his  apartment;  then 
resumed  his  seat  and  lethargic  stare  at  the  fire. 
The  book  fell  unheeded  from  his  grasp. 

Hours  passed,  and  again  the  coarse,  distorted, 
purple  features  of  Klove  appeared — once  the 
countenance  of  a  timid  boy,  who  stood  falsely 
accused  and  cowering  before  a  stern  magistrate ; 
thence  driven  by  a  storm  of  hisses,  and  flying 
from  home,  followed  by  a  widowed  mother  and 
child-sister.  And  the  brand  THIEF  clings  to  the 
hapless  lad,  and  enmeshes  him  in  a  web  of  mis- 
fortune; now  reckless  with  despair,  he  plunges 


276  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

into  vice  and  crime,  until  the  law  forces  him  to 
yield  up  his  spotted  soul  on  the  gallows ! 

And  how  fared  the  real  thief  f 

He,  sly  and  sharp,  in  sudden  glee  at  his  trover, 
bought  with  it  a  lottery  ticket  that  drew  a  prize. 
This  windfall,  shrewdly  invested,  brought  'him  a 
fortune,  then  an  heiress ;  and  thus  he  waxed  in 
wealth  and  station,  until  he  became  one  whose 
possessions  bred  envy,  and  whose  position  com- 
manded respect ;  while  the  innocent  and  wrongly 
accused  boy  became  an  outcast,  a  criminal — an 
assassin!  Driven  to  perdition  by  the  wealthy 
and  respectable  citizen ! 

"  It's  a  -dream — a  dream.  The  foolish  dream 
of  an  enfeebled  man,  whose  reason  and  judgment 
are  failing  and  wandering ;  who  is  frightened  at 
shadows  conjured  by  his  imagination.  My  mind 
wanders.  Why  will  those  dreadful  thoughts  re- 
turn ?  That  sinking  terror ! " 

"  I  must  leave  this  room — this  place — for  the 
air  is  full  of-  jibing  imps!  ....  I  must 
go,  for  all  this  luxury  mocks  me.  Away  from 
this  roof — from  these  ponderous  walls,  that  are 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  277 

loaded  with  iniquity,  or  they  will  fall  and  crush 

me In  some  quiet,  retired  spot  I 

may  live  in  happiness  and  peace." 

Mr.  Heath  left  his  room,  and  with  stealthy 
steps  descended  the  stairs.  It  was  late;  the 
house  was  silent;  all  had  retired  for  the  night 
save  he.  With  nimble  fingers  he  opened  the 
hall-door  noiselessly,  and  went  out  on  the  lawn. 
He  was  bareheaded,  and  in  his  dressing-gown 
and  slippers.  The  night  was  dark,  gloomy,  and 
rainy.  The  cold  drops  falling  on  his  unprotected 
head  seemed  to  soothe  and  refresh  him. 

"  So,  so — this  is  better,"  he  exclaimed,  with  a 
sigh  of  relief.  "  How  dreadful  was  all  that  pomp 
and  glitter!  How  fortunate  I  am  to  have  es- 
caped from  those  torturing,  horrible  riches ! 
That  wealth  was  consuming  me  like  licking 
flames — that  load  of  ill-gotten  money  crushing 
my  poor  brain — my  poor  brain.  Now  I  am 
free,  free  !  and  will  seek  a  home  where  poverty, 
and  peace,  and  happiness  abide." 

With  almost  preternatural  adroitness  he  picked 
his  way,  in  spite  of  the  obscurity,  over  his  grounds 
and  out  at  a  postern  gate  to  the  open  road.  He 


278  SIAIiK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

walked  along  rapidly,  and  seemed  intent  on 
reaching  the  town.  He  changed  his  apparent 
intention,  however,  for  he  retraced  his  steps  and 
turned  abruptly  into  a  by-path  that  led  along  the 
river-side.  On  he  went  towards  the  cliff,  pro- 
ceeding as  unerringly  as  if  in  broad  daylight, 
and  without  the  slightest  hesitation,  guided,  per- 
haps, by  some  instinct  similar  to  the  marvellous 
second-sight  of  the  somnambulist.  The  least 
deviation  might  have  brought  him  to  the  edge  of 
the  precipice.  At  length  he  reached  the  foot- 
bridge. It  was  a  frail  structure  of  wood  span- 
ning the  chasm,  with  its  ends  resting  on  the  lofty 
basaltic  walls.  Mr.  Heath  was  about  to  cross 
this  bridge,  but  stopped  midway  and  gazed  in 
the  direction  of  the  town  only  to  be  distinguished 
by  the  faint  glimmer  of  a  few  lights.  He  seemed 
absorbed  in  reflection,  and  stood  there  in  that 
wild,  rainy  night,  unmindful  of  the  cold  and 
wet,  and  motionless  amid  the  continual  thunder 
of  the  falling  waters,  visible  through  the  black- 
ness in  swiftly  agitated  scrolls  of  snowy  foam. 
But  his  thoughts  were  elsewhere;  back  to  the 
time  when  he  was  a  young  man  beginning  life, 
and  had  seen  the  boy  Klove  standing  on  that 


GELDEBSLEEVE.  279 


bridge  with  his  little  sister  by  him!  The  two 
children  were  staring  in  open-eyed  awe  at  the 
appalling  depth  below  them,  and  the  boy  held 
the  girl  tightly  by  the  hand  in  precaution.  It 
seemed  but  yesterday.  He,  Heath,  then  a  clerk, 
was  taking  some  papers  to  Mr.  Obershaw,  when 
he  passed  those  two  innocent  children  on  the 
bridge.  Better  for  them  —  far  better,  had  he 
flung  them  both  into  the  raging  torrent  below! 
Again  he  met  the  boy  at  old  Van  Slyke's  store. 
There  was  a  dispute  about  a  missing  bank-note, 
and  the  lad  was  in  dismay  at  the  loss.  He, 
Heath,  had  seen  the  note  fall  on  the  floor,  and 
put  his  foot  on  it.  He  could  distinctly  recall  the 
feeling  of  gratification  with  which  he  slyly  se- 
cured it,  and  the  singular  superstitious  prompt- 
ing that  induced  him  to  buy  a  lottery  ticket  with 
it.  That  bank-note  had  borne  him  luck,  and 
proved  the  corner-stone  of  his  opulence  and 
grandeur  ;  and  its  loss  had  entailed  the  destruc- 
tion of  two  souls!  What  fearful,  fatal  results 
from  so  light  a  theft  !  How  deeply  had  the  boy 
fallen  —  a  malefactor,  a  deeply-dyed  murderer, 
and  his  sister  —  that  helpless  child  !  O  Christ  ! 
that  awful  conscience-throe  !  Why  had  he  not 


280  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

sent  them  both  to  eternity  then?  Better  for 
them  and  for  him.  Mercy,  mercy !  that  terrible 
lead-like  load  is  coming  again,  and  pressing — 
pressing  so  fearfully  on  the  throbbing  brain. 

Help^OGod! 

Easier  now — 

and  hark !  A  voice  seems  calling  to  him.  „  No, 
it's  but  the  sighing  wind.  Oh  for  rest,  and  for- 
getfulness,  and  peace  I  Rest  and  oblivion. 
Take  all — all !  and  give  me  that.  Cannot  wealth 
buy  it  ?  It  is  there,  though — down  there  !  How 
quietly  those  black  boulders  sleep  amid  that 
boiling  foam.  One  leap  and  I  am  free  ! 

With  a  frantic  toss  of  his  arms  Ruf  us  Heath 
flung  himself  off  the  bridge.  A  form  vanished 
into  the  dark  abyss,  and  all  was  over.  Sullenly 
and  persistently,  as  before,  the  Passaic  plunged 
over  the  steep,  bearing  in  its  rapid  tide  the  mag- 
nifico  of  Belton,  like  a  drifting  log. 

Early  the  next  morning,  as  some  artisans  were 
going  to  their  work  and  walking  along  the  river- 
side, their  attention  was  attracted  by  a  partly 
submerged  object  near  the  bank.  It  was  the 
body  of  Rufus  Heath,  kept  to  the  surface  by  the 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  281 

swirl  of  an  eddy.  With  the  assistance  of  a  boat, 
the  corpse  was  drawn  ashore,  and  kept  there 
until  the  coroner  could  be  summoned.  Like 
wild-fire  the  news  spread  through  Belton,  and 
crowds  hurried  to  see  the  drowned  body  of  its 
chief  citizen. 

And  then  through  the  circle  of  gaping,  curious 
spectators  came  a  cry  of  anguish  that  separated 
them  like  the  thrust  of  a  sword ;  and  they  hustled 
aside  as  the  daughter  hastened  with  faltering 
steps  to  her  dead  father.  With  clasped  hands, 
knit  brows,  and  brimming  eyes  the  poor  child 
knelt  to  embrace  the  wet  and  bruised  head.  Her 
low  quivering  sobs  awed  them  all,  until  George 
Gildersleeve,  tenderly  unclasping  her  clinging 
arms,  raised  her  fainting  form,  and  bore  her 
away. 


282 


XVII. 

THE  huge  battlemented  villa  on  the  cliff  was 
a  gloomy  enough  residence  since  the  death  of  its 
owner.  The  remaining  occupants,  oppressed  by 
their  bereavement,  moved  about  the  silent  rooms 
like  shadows.  Mrs.  Applegate  was  of  the  opinion 
that  a  change  of  scene  was  absolutely  necessary 
to  dissipate  Edna's  excessive  grief,  and  that  a 
continued  stay  in  their  present  habitation  might 
tend  to  impair  her  health.  Edna,  however, 
seemed  reluctant  to  leave  her  home,  and  it  was 
only  at  the  urgent  solicitation  of  the  Mumbies 
that  she  did  so.  Mr.  Mumbie  was  one  of  the  ex- 
ecutors of  Mr.  Heath's  will,  and  was  also  ap- 
pointed Edna's  guardian.  Mr.  Mumbie  felt  the 
loss  of  his  old  friend  Ruf us  Heath  deeply.  His 
first  impulse  was  to  put  his  whole  family  in 
mourning,  but  on  second  thoughts  he  confined 
himself  to  delivering  a  eulogy  on  the  character 
of  the  deceased  to  every  one  he  met,  prefacing  it 
by  the  sage  remark,  solemnly  delivered,  that  it 


MAEK   GILDEK8LEEVE.  283 

was  a  very  sudden  death.  As  this  was  a  propo- 
sition that  did  not  admit  of  much  controversy,  the 
listener  generally  coincided.  "Ah!  sir,  such  is 
life,"  continued  Mr.  Mumbie,  addressing  Dr.  Wat- 
tletop,  who  added,  "  And  death." 

"  Yery  true — and  death,"  repeated  Mr.  Mum- 
bie, pausing  to  reflect,  as  if  this  side  of  the  axiom 
had  never  struck  him  before,  "  and  death,  as  you 
very  justly  remark.  Ah !  sir,  at  a  moment  like 
the  present,  how  hollow  everything  looks !  What's 
money  at  a  time  like  this  ?  How  transitory  and 
vain  are  our  pursuits — everything,  in  fact ! " 

"  Paper-mills,  for  instance,"  observed  the  doctor. 

"  Yes,  sir,  every  worldly  matter ;  and  the  reflec- 
tion will  force  itself  upon  us,  that  in  the  midst  of 
life  we  are  in  death,  and  there's  no  use  kicking 
against  it.  Now  Mr.  Heath  was  a  very  peculiar 
man;  I  knew  him  thoroughly.  We  had  been 
much  together  from  boyhood,  and  we  were  always 
like  brothers — if  anything,  rather  more  intimate 
and  affectionate  than  brothers.  We  began  life 
together;  to  be  sure,  I  had  a  little  the  start  of 
him,  but  then  our  tastes  and  sympathies  were  ex- 
actly alike  to  a  shade.  Mr.  Heath,  sir  (impres- 
sively), was  a  very  remarkable  man — very  remark- 


284  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

able  man,  indeed.  He  was  not  only  a  scholar, 
and  a  Christian,  but  a  gentleman  as  well.  He 
was  also,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression, 
a  high-toned  man — very  high-toned  indeed, 
sir.  He  was  a  man  of  wonderful  abilities, 
wide  scope  (with  a  circular  flourish  to  exemplify 
the  scope),  and  great  grasp  (clenching  his  large 
fist) — great  grasp  of  intellect.  I  will  state  to  you, 
and  I  trust  you  will  see  the  importance  of  not  re- 
peating it — I  will  state  to  you  in  confidence,  that 
I  was  consulted  in  regard  to  a  plan  on  foot — a 
plan  in  which  our  most  eminent  men  were  en- 
gaged :  1  am  not  at  liberty  to  divulge  names,  but 
it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  they  were  our  most  super- 
eminent  men  ;  consulted,  sir,  in  regard  to  a  plan 
that  would  eventually  have  set  Mr.  Heath  on  the 
very  pinnacle  of  greatness — the  very  pinnacle." 

"Rather  an  uncomfortable  seat,  I  should 
fancy,"  commented  the  doctor. 

Mr.  Mumbie  stared  with  a  puzzled  expression 
at  the  physician.  He  never  could  understand 
him,  and  took  refuge  in  repeating  the  eulogy  in 
succession  to  Blanks  the  stationer,  and  to  Snopple 
the  photographer.  Mr.  Snopple  acquiesced  fully 
in  Mr.  Mumbie's  estimate  of  Mr.  Heath's  character 


MAKK   GIIDEESLEEVE.  285 

and  virtues,  and  stated  that  any  one  could  see  with 
half  an  eye,  by  merely  looking  at  a  portrait  of  the 
defunct  gentleman,  that  he  was  no  ordinary  mortal, 
but  had  a  very  instructive  and  superior  physiog- 
nomy; and  that,  by  the  bye,  reminded  him  that  he 
had  in  his  studio  a  very  fine  negative  representing 
Mr.  Heath  in  three-quarter  face  and  characteristic 
pose,  from  which  copies  could  be  struck  off,  which 
he  would  agree  to  furnish  colored,  if  preferred, 
in  the  highest  style  of  art,  for  twenty  dollars 
each,  frame  included;  and  which  would  be  an 
ornament  to  any  parlor,  and  one  that  no  family 
in  Belton  should  be  without. 

Mr.  Mumbie  said  he  would  see  about  it.  Mr. 
Mumbie  had  no  time  to  think  of  anything  just 
then.  He  was  overwhelmed  with  the  responsi- 
bilities thrust  upon  him. 

"  The  fiduciary  obligations  imposed  on  me  by 
the  death  of  my  friend  Mr.  Heath,  are  very  great 
— very  great  indeed,  and  onerous  (with  a  sigh). 
Still  it  is  a  duty  I  must  perform ;  a  sacred  trust 
and  burden  I  must  accept.  We  must  all  bow  to 
the  decrees  of  Providence ; "  and  Mr.  Mumbie,  to 
console  himself,  cast  up  mentally  the  fees  the 
executorship  was  likely  to  bring  him,  which  com- 


286  ULABK  GILDEKSLEEVE. 

pleted  and  perfected  his  reconcilement  to  the 
decrees  of  Providence. 

To  do  him  justice,  he  was  a  faithful  guardian 
and  trustee  ;  and  as  for  his  wife,  she  outdid  her- 
self in  motherly  solicitude  for  the  young  heiress, 
whom  she  immediately  took  under  her  protecting 
wing. 

Edna,  Mrs.  Mumbie  insisted,  must  come  and 
live  with  her.  She  must  be  removed  at  once 
from  the  painful  associations  connected  with  her 
old  home,  as  Mrs.  Applegate  had  very  wisely  ad- 
vised, and  her  guardian's  family  was  the  place 
for  her.  Edna  complied,  and  the  Mumbies  treat- 
ed her  like  a  favorite  child.  The  best  room  in 
the  house  was  allotted  to  her,  and  nothing  was 
considered  too  good  for  dear  Edna.  So  the  stately 
dwelling  of  the  late  Mr.  Heath  was  abandoned, 
and  given  over  to  the  care  of  the  gardener,  as 
Mrs.  Applegate,  who  had  been  handsomely  pro- 
vided for  in  her  brother's  will,  departed  to  take 
up  her  residence  in  Philadelphia  with  an  aged 
relative. 

Mrs.  Mumbie  had  ulterior  views  in  regard  to 
Edna.  The  desirableness  of  securing  that  young 
lady  as  a  helpmeet  for  her  son  Bob,  had  not 


MAKE:  GILDERSLEEVE.  287 

escaped  the  attention  of  this  sagacious  and  good 
mother,  and  she  decided  to  bring  it  about.  Let 
us  add,  too,  that  whatever  Mrs.  Mumbie  determined 
to  do  she  generally  accomplished,  as  her  husband 
had  discovered  at  the  outset  of  his  connubial  life. 
Mr.  Mumbie  had  a  very  high  opinion  of  his 
spouse's  ability,  and  no  little  dread  of  her  temper. 
She  came  of  one  of  the  very  first  of  the  celebrat- 
ed first-families  of  Virginia,  the  Skinners,  and 
was  connected,  moreover,  on  her  mother's  side 
with  the  Yallabushas  of  Mississippi.  Everybody 
had  heard  of  her  father,  Colonel  Roger  Skinner, 
of  Pokomoke,  one  of  the  first  poker-players  of 
his  day,  whose  true  Southern  hospitality  and 
peach-brandy  were  the  themes  of  universal  com- 
mendation. Mumbie  met  the  fascinating  Miss  Sal- 
lie  Skinner  first  at  Saratoga,  where  he  at  once  suc- 
cumbed to  the  potent  bewitchment  of  her  raven 
hair  and  brilliant  eyes.  He  ventured,  after  many 
misgivings,  to  propose,  and  was  accepted,  much 
to  his  surprise  and  delight,  as  he  had  hardly 
dared  to  hope  that  such  a  divinity  would  link 
herself  with  an  ordinary  mortal.  Other  people, 
who  had  heard  the  vivacious  belle  ridicule  poor 
Mumbie's  large  ears  and  amorphous  feet,  mar- 


288  MART?   GILDEESLEEVE. 

veiled  too ;  but  the  truth  was  she  had  accepted 
him  in  a  fit  of  spite  at  some  recreant  lover's  deser- 
tion. Of  course  the  marriage  was  considered  a 
mesalliance  in  the  aristocratic  circles  of  Poko- 
moke,  and  the  bride's  relatives  for  a  while  treated 
the  paper-maker  rather  contemptuously,  but 
as  poker  and  peach-brandy  had  seriously  im- 
paired the  substance  of  the  Skinner  family,  they 
gradually  became  reconciled  to  the  match,  and 
condescended  to  accept  largess  from  the  wealthy 
manufacturer.  Mr.  Mumbie  had  a  heart  corre- 
sponding in  size  to  his  ears  and  feet,  and  proved 
a  perfect  dove  and  treasure  of  a  husband.  Ma- 
licious tongues  said  he  dared  not  be  otherwise, 
for  the  first  and  only  time  he  attempted  to  cross 
his  wife,  she  simply  flung  herself  on  the  carpet, 
and  beat  a  tattoo  with  her  heels,  screeching  terri- 
bly the  while,  until  Mumbie,  frightened  and  sub- 
jected, promised  anything  and  everything  to 
avoid  a  repetition  of  the  scene.  This,  to  be  sure, 
was  in  the  early  period  of  their  union.  Now 
Mr.  Mumbie,  through  long  servitude,  was  so  thor- 
oughly broken  to  harness  and  under  control,  and 
Mrs.  Mumbie  had  gained  such  undisputed  and 
serene  ascendancy,  that  stratagems  were  unuec- 


MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE.  289 

essary,  and  she  ruled  through  superior  force  of 
character. 

This  was  the  energetic  and  ingenious  lady  who 
determined  to  direct  the  destiny  of  her  husband's 
ward,  and  relieve  her  from  the  trouble  and  diffi- 
culty of  selecting  a  husband.  To  gain  her  ends, 
she  surrounded  Edna  with  every  attention,  and 
was  more  than  a  mother  to  her  in  fact,  pending 
the  time  when  she  would  be  one  in  law.  The 
young  heiress  began  to  find  herself  installed  as  a 
being  of  immense  importance,  and  was  much 
surprised  at  the  vast  amount  of  consideration 
shown  to  her  by  her  elders.  She  was  shrewd 
enough  to  suspect  that  much  of  it  was  due  to  her 
wealth,  and  despised  it  accordingly ;  for  there 
was  too  much  good  sense  in  the  girl,  and  her 
character  was  too  frank  and  independent  to  yield 
readily  to  the  pernicious  influence  of  parasitism. 

The  correspondence  which  had  been  kept  up 
with  regularity  between  Edna  and  her  soldier- 
lover  was  interrupted  by  the  death  of  her  father, 
Mark's  intuitive  delicacy  forbidding  him  for  a 
time  from  intruding  on  the  grief  of  a  mourning 

daughter,  further  than  in  sending  a  formal  letter 
13 


290  MATETT   GILDEESLEEVE. 

of  condolence.  It  must  be  admitted,  too,  that 
Edna  in  her  grief  had  but  few  thoughts  to  bestow 
on  the  suitor  who  was  serving  another  mistress  in 
the  swamps  of  the  Chickahominy.  At  length,  to 
make  amends  for  her  negligence,  she  wrote  him 
a  long  epistle,  the  superscription  of  which  hap- 
pened to  meet  Miss  Ada  Mumbie's  eye.  Not- 
withstanding the  intimacy  existing  between  the 
two  young  ladies,  and  contraiy  to  the  usual  cus- 
tom in  such  cases,  Miss  Heath  had  never  confided 
her  tender  regard  for  Mark  Gildersleeve  to  her 
friend  Miss  Mumbie.  The  latter,  anxious  to 
know  if  any  such  feeling  existed,  taxed  Edna 
with  it,  and  affected  pique  at  her  want  of  confi- 
dence. That  young  lady  at  once,  with  a  blush, 
admitted  the  soft  impeachment.  Ada  Mumbie 
was  an  outspoken  young  lady,  and  took  after  her 
mamma  in  respect  to  having  an  opinion  of  her 
own.  She  raised  her  eyebrows  very  significantly 
at  Edna's  confession,  saying :  "  Why — Ed-na 
Heath,  the  i-dea !  I  declare,  I  am  surprised  be- 
yond anything.  I  never  would  have  thought  it. 
He  may  be  a  very  industrious,  excellent  young 
man,  but  so  very  much  your  inferior  in  every 
way.  Why,  he's  not  even  a  person  you  could 


TVTAT?.T?  GILDEESLEEVE.  291 

flirt  with,  much  less  correspond.  His  brother  is 
an  exceedingly  common  man — exceedingly  so. 
Why,  what  can  you  be  thinking  of  ? " 

Edna,  nettled  at  this,  bridled  up  and  answered, 
"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean  by  so  much  my 
inferior.  He's  far  cleverer  than  I  am,  or  you 
either,  Ada.  He's  very  refined  and  polite  and 
gentlemanly,  I'm  sure ;  and  just  as  good  as  gold." 

"  Mercy  on  us^Edna  !  I  declare  I  didn't  know 
you  were  so  very  much  interested  in  him,  or  I 
wouldn't  have  ventured  to  say  a  word.  To  be  sure, 
my  acquaintance  with  the  gentleman  is  so  very 
slight  that  I  am  hardly  competent  to  judge  of 
him.  I  expressed  myself  as  I  did  solely  out  of 
friendship  for  you.  Tou  know  very  well  that 
the  position  you  occupy  in  society,  and  your  large 
fortune — " 

"  Ada,  you  might  have  spared  me  that  last  re- 
mark," interrupted  Edna  in  a  vexed  tone.  "I 
hear  so  much  about  my  fortune — my  wealth,  that 
I  detest  the  very  mention  of  it.  Oblige  me, 
please,  by  never  again  alluding  to  it  in  my  pres- 
ence." . 

"  Well,  dear,  don't  let  us  quarrel  over  it.  I'm 
sorry,  and  promise  you  I'll  never  say  another 


292  MAKK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

word  about  it :  there  .now ;  "  said  Miss  Mumbie, 
and  Edna  kissed  her  friend  in  token  of  amity 
and  restored  concord.  The  friend  intended  to 
be  a  valuable  auxiliary  to  her  mamma  in  bring- 
ing about,  in  time,  a  match  between  her  brother 
Bob  and  the  young  heiress ;  but  she  found  she 
had  made  a  misstep.  Thus  far,  though  attentive 
and  agreeable  in  his  clumsy  way,  Bob  did  not 
seem  to  make  any  appreciable  progress  in  his 
suit.  When  his  sister  imparted  the  discovery 
she  had  made,  to  wit :  that  he  had  a  rival, 
and  one  that  Edna  seemed  to  evince  considera- 
ble partiality  for,  he  redoubled  his  efforts  to 
please.  Unfortunately,  Bob  was  not  a  being  cal- 
culated to  captivate  the  fair.  His  physical  graces 
were  few,  and  his  mental  less,  and  he  only  served 
to  amuse  Miss  Heath  until  he  succeeded  in  bo- 
ring her.  She,  rightfully  ascribing  this  increase 
of  homage  on  the  part  of  the  enamored  Bob  to 
her  ingenuous  declaration  to  his  sister,  rather 
regretted  it,  especially  as  she  feared  having  per- 
haps shown  too  much  warmth  in  her  defence 
of  Mark  Gildersleeve.  Thenceforth  by  a  tacit 
understanding,  the  subject  was  not  again  re- 
ferred to  between  the  two  girls. 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEYE. 


293 


Mrs.  Mumble,  on  learning  of  the  danger  to  her 
son's  prospects,  determined  to  nip  it  in  the  bud. 
"  I  am  really  astonished,"  said  she  to  her  hus- 
band, "  that  so  well-bred  a  girl  could  have 
allowed  her  thoughts  to  stray  away  so  unguard- 
edly. A  machinist,  dear  me,  how  low  !  Working 
with  a  hammer — all  over  oil,  and  grease,  and 
smoke.  It's  positively  amazing  what  crazy  no- 
tions girls  will  get  in  their  heads.  I  suppose, 
though,  it's  all  owing  to  his  turning  soldier.  Of 
course,  it's  nothing  but  a  mere  girlish  fancy,  but 
it  might  grow  unless  checked.  Change  of  gcene 
and  a  new  train  of  ideas  will  soon  dissipate  the 
foolish  whim.  A  tour  abroad  is  just  the  very 
thing — the  very  thing.  Mr.  Mumbie,  we  must 
go  to  Europe." 

"  But,  my  dear,  it's  impossible  to  go  now.  I 
can't  leave — " 

"  Mr.  Mumbie,  we  must  go  to  Europe,"  was 
repeated  with  emphasis,  "and  the  sooner  the 
better.  Speak  to  Edna  on  the  subject  at  once— 
she  needs  the  voyage.  Ada  needs  it — so  does 
Bob.  It's  time  they  saw  something  of  the  world, 
and  it  will  improve  their  minds  vastly." 

Mr.  Mumbie  did  as  he  was  bid.     Edna  was 


294:  MARK   GUDEESLEEVE. 

delighted  at  the  idea  of  a  trip  to  Europe,  and 
readily  assented  to  her  guardian's  proposal.  At 
the  same  time  he  deemed  it  well  to  improve  the 
opportunity,  in  view  of  what  he  had  learnt  re- 
specting his  ward's  inclinations,  by  imparting 
some  information  which  might  tend  to  give  her 
a  better  estimate  of  her  worth  and  position  in  the 
world  than  she  seemed  to  possess. 

"  Edna,  I  believe  I  have  never  spoken  a  word 
to  you  about  business  matters.  I  thought  it 
would  be  as  well  to  get  everything  into  shape  be- 
fore I  said  anything.  Of  course  it  is  something 
that  you  don't  know  much  about,  and  yet  I  sup- 
pose I  ought  to  ascertain  if  you've  any  wishes  in 
regard  to  the  management  of  the  estate,  and  so 
forth.  If  so,  I  am  ready  to  take  them  into  con- 
sideration," said  Mr.  Mumbie. 

"  I  have  one  wish,  sir,"  said  Edna. 

"  Well,  what  is  it  ? " 

"  I  should  like  to  have  father's  intentions  car- 
ried out  in  regard  to  building  the  Home  and 
the  Hospital,  exactly  as  if  he  were  alive,"  said 
Edna  earnestly. 

"  But,  my  child,  that  would  cost  a  great  deal 
of  money,  a  very  great  deal,  and — " 


MARK   GILDEESLEEVE.  295 

"  I  don't  care  if  it  takes  all  the  estate ;  I  pre- 
sume there  is  enough  to  do  it,"  said  Edna  decid- 
edly. 

"Of  course  there's  enough  and  more  than 
enough,  but  I  should  not  be  justified  or  permit- 
ted to  use  any  funds  in  that  way.  So  there's 
no  use  in  saying  anything  more  about  it  now. 
When  you  come  of  age,  why  then,  we  can  talk  it 
over  again  if  you're  of  the  same  mind.  Now, 
Edna,"  continued  Mr.  Mumbie,  taking  up  a  roll 
of  paper,  "  I've  got  something  to  show  you  that 
will  interest  you.  I  have  prepared  and  completed, 
after  a  great  deal  of  labor,  an  inventory  of  your 
late  lamented  father's  estate.  The  estimates  are, 
if  anything,  in  many  cases  below  the  real  values. 
Here  is  the  schedule — and  what  do  you  think  it 
all  foots  up  ?  What  do  you  think  it  all  amounts 
to  in  dollars  and  cents  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Edna.  "  A  great  deal, 
I've  no  doubt." 

"  But  guess — try  and  guess,"  insisted  Mr.  Mum- 
bie  with  an  air  of  triumph. 

"  Please  don't  ask  me ;  I'd  rather  not,"  said 
Edna  seriously. 

"  Rather  not ! "  repeated  Mr.  Mumbie  with  as- 


296  MAtre   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

toiiishment ;  "  why,  bless  me,  why  not  ?  Don't 
you  want  to  know  how  much  yon  are  worth  ? " 

"  No — no— "  said  Edna  quickly,  and  shaking 
her  head. 

"Why— why  not?" 

"  Because— because — "  said  Edna,  her  eyes  sud- 
denly moistening,  and  sensitive  mouth  quivering. 

Mr.  Mumbie  looked  perplexed.  "  Why,  Edna, 
it  is  clearly  your  duty  that  you  should  gain  some 
knowledge  of  the  way  in  which  the  vast  for- 
tune you  have  inherited  is  invested.  You  must 
begin  to  learn  something  about  it,  and  about  taking 
care  of  it.  It  is  very  seldom  that  so  young  a  per- 
son is  so  fortunate  as  to  have  such  riches  left  them, 
and—" 

Edna  burst  into  tears.  "  Oh,  please,  sir,  doD*t 
say  anything  to  me  about  it  now.  I  suppose  it's 
very  wrong  in  me,  but  they  all  talk  to  me  so 
about  my  wealth,  that  it  makes  me  feel  wretched. 
They  appear  to  envy  me — and  to  think  I  ought 
to  be  so  happy  in  being  rich,  until  it  seems  as  if 
they  thought  I  had  profited  by  my  poor — poor 
father's  death.  I  wish  I  were  poor  and  had 
•  nothing." 

This  is  very  extraordinary  indeed,  thought  Mr. 


MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE.  297 

Mumble,  who  imagine^  he  had  prepared  a  pleas- 
ant surprise  for  his  ward.  "  Well,  well,  Edna, 
dry  your  eyes,  my  child.  "We  won't  talk  business 
if  you  don't  like  it.  Mrs.  Mumbie  says  she  thinks 
the  trip  to  Europe  will  do  you  good,  and  I've  no 
doubt  it  will.  So  get  ready  and  we'll  all  be  off 
as  soon  as  possible." 

In  less  than  a  fortnight  after  this  conversation, 
Edna,  and  the  Mumbie  family  with  the  exception 
of  the  youngest  member,  were  at  sea  on  their  way 
to  Liverpool.  Before  leaving,  Edna  wrote  a  letter 
to  Mark,  bidding  him  an  affectionate  farewell ; 
promising  that  her  absence  would  be  but  a  short 
one,  and  reiterating  her  oft-expressed  wish  that 
the  war  would  soon  end  and  enable  him  to  return 
home  safe  and  famous.  By  the  time  this  epistle 
reached  its  destination  the  one  it  was  addressed 
to  was  a  captive  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  An 
expedition  had  been  planned  to  make  a  dash  in- 
to the  capital  of  the  Confederacy  and  rescue  the 
prisoners  confined  on  Belle  Isle.  Mark  Gilder- 
sleeve  took  part  in  this  hazardous  undertaking, 
which  through  lack  of  support  failed,  and  he  with 
a  few  others  as  rashly  venturesome,  were  surround- 
ed and  captured  ;  not,  however,  until  after  a  gal- 
is* 


298  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

lant  struggle  in  which  several  were  killed  and  a 
number  wounded.  Among  the  latter  Mark,  who 
received  on  that  occasion  a  carbine  bullet  in  his 
bridle-arm,  which  he  repaid  by  lodging  the  con- 
tents of  his  revolver  into  two  of  his  assailants. 
Another  shot,  however,  disabled  his  horse,  and  he 
was  made  prisoner.  He  suffered  severely  from 
his  wound,  owing  to  a  want  of  proper  medical  at- 
tendance; but  fortunately  the  ball,  which  had 
taken  an  erratic  course,  was  easily  extracted,  and 
his  vigorous  constitution  did  the  rest.  He  spent 
some  five  weary  months  in  Castle  Thunder  and 
was  then  exchanged.  On  his  return  to  his  regi- 
ment he  found  the  letter  from  Edna,  announcing 
her  departure  for  Europe,  awaiting  him.  He  had 
written  to  her  several  times  during  his  captivity, 
without  receiving  any  reply ;  now  her  silence  was 
explained.  His  letters  had  probably  not  been 
forwarded  properly,  or  if  forwarded  had  not 
reached  her.  He  had  had  an  almost  irresistible 
inclination  to  revisit  Belton,  but  now  that  it  was 
bereft  of  its  chief  attraction  the  desire  vanished, 
and  he  returned  to  his  duty,  with  an  increased 
determination  to  carve  his  way  to  distinction  at 
whatever  cost. 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  299 

Meanwhile  Miss  Heath  and  her  friends  had 
arrived  in  Europe.  It  was  her  first  visit  there, 
and  she  found  so  much  that  was  novel  and  pleas- 
ing that  her  mind  was  constantly  occupied  and 
diverted.  Some  time  was  spent  travelling  through 
England  and  Scotland ;  then  they  proceeded  on 
the  usual  tour  through  the  Continent,  making  a 
lengthened  stay  in  Paris.  The  following  summer 
was  passed  in  Switzerland  and  at  the  German 
watering-places.  In  the  former  country  they  met 
some  pleasant  English  people,  and  among  them 
a  party  of  Cambridge  students.  One  of  the 
(Wtabs  was  very  attentive  to  the  young  ladies, 
and  Edna  declared  he  was  the  most  entertaining 
and  agreeable  young  gentleman  she  had  ever 
met.  He  was  handsome  withal,  judging  from  a 
description  of  him  given  in  a  letter  of  Edna's 
to  her  friend  Constance  Hull,  in  which  she  said  : 
"  His  complexion  is  just  lilies  and  roses — in  fact 
it  exactly  matches  the  blush-rose  in  his  button- 
hole ;  and  his  large,  limpid  irids  are  of  forget-me- 
not  blue — suggestive  hue!  Everything's  'awful 
jolly '  with  him,  and  he  makes  the  nicest  bever- 
ages with  sherry  and  claret,  and  sliced  cucum- 
bers, called  ( claret-cup,'  or  something  of  that 


MATtTT 

sort,  but  at  any  rate,  it's  perfectly  delicious ;  and 
lie's  just  as  full  of  fun  as  he  can  be,  and  always 
ready  for  some  frolic  or  other."  Such  delightful 
walks  and  excursions  as  they  enjoyed  together, 
and  how  sorry  they  all  were  to  part  with  him. 
Even  Mrs.  Mumbie  seemed  to  regret  the  separa- 
tion, perhaps  because  he  was  the  nephew  of  a 
lord,  and  had  paid  some  attention  to  Ada,  who 
certainly  was  smitten  with  him.  As  for  Edna, 
she  was  suspiciously  quiet  for  a  few  days  after 
his  departure,  and  we  fear  that  during  that  time 
her  thoughts  seldom  reverted  to  her  absent  suitor, 
the  striving  Union  volunteer.  But  his  image 
arose  again  to  reproach  her,  as  she  reflected  that 
she  had  not  written  a  line  to  him  in  a  very  long 
while.  To  be  sure  he  had  not  replied  to  her 
last  epistle ;  in  fact,  she  had  written  three  or  four 
without  receiving  any  response,  and  had  half 
made  up  her  mind  not  to  write  again  until  she 
had  received  an  acknowledgment  of  her  letters. 
Perhaps,  thought  she,  they  may  not  have  reached 
him.  Still  he  might  write  to  me  at  all  events. 
Poor  fellow!  who  knows,  he  may  be  sick,  or 
wounded,  or  in  prison.  Dear  me,  I've  been  so 
distracted  with  all  I've  seen  and  heard,  that  I'm 


GILDERSLEEVE.  301 


afraid  I  don't  think  as  often  of  him  as  I  ought 
to.  I'll  sit  down  at  once  and  write  him  a  good, 
kind,  long  letter  to  make  amends.  And  she  did 
so,  but  it  met  a  fate  similar  to  the  previous  ones, 
bearing  the  same  superscription,  that  she  had 
sent,  and  found  its  way,  we  regret  to  say,  into 
the  hands  of  Mrs.  Madison  Mumbie,  who  con- 
signed the  tender  lines  to  congenial  flames,  after 
having  cynically  perused  them.  While  in  Paris, 
Edna,  in  recognition  of  the  kindness  shown  her 
by  her  guardian's  family,  had  presented  the 
mother  and  the  daughter  with  expensive  parures 
of  diamonds.  The  one  selected  for  Mrs.  Mumbie 
was  in  particular  composed  of  the  finest  and 
most  costly  stones.  Mrs.  Mumbie  was  profuse 
and  almost  abject  in  her  acknowledgments  and 
thanks  to  dear  Edna.  Could  that  generous  young 
heart  have  known  that  this  velvety  woman  had 
been  treacherously  intercepting  her  correspond- 
ence —  rifling  the  depositaries  of  her  secret 
thoughts,  she  would  have  shrunk  from  her  as 
from  a  reptile.  But  to  youthful  innocence  base- 
ness such  as  this  exists  not. 

The  next  winter  was  spent  in  Italy,  chiefly  in 
Rome.     Edna's  enthusiasm  for  the  glorious  old 


302  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

city  knew  no  bounds.  Between  sight-seeing  and 
shopping  she  had  not  an  idle  moment.  The 
quantities  of  silken  sashes  and  jewels  of  coral  and 
mosaic  she  bought  for  presents,  and  the  money 
she  spent  and  flung  away  to  lazzaroui,  would  have 
driven  her  grandfather  Obershaw  as  wild  as  Shy- 
lock  was  at  Jessica's  extravagance.  She  created 
a  great  sensation  among  the  artists.  The  sculp- 
tors wanted  to  model  her  lips  and  chin,  and  the 
painters  raved  about  her  hair  and  complexion ; 
altogether,  between  the  studios,  the  ruins,  the  Car- 
nival, and  what  not,  she  was  having,  as  she  ex- 
pressed it  in  her  correspondence  with  Miss  Hull, 
"  a  splendid  time."  There  was  a  long  postscript 
to  that  letter  to  this  effect : 

P.  S.  "£ou  remember  I  mentioned  in  my  last,  that  we  had 
engaged  a  new  courier  in  Paris,  a  handsome  Italian  named 
Luigi,  who  was  so  very  refined  and  distingue-looking,  and  such 
an  excellent  linguist.  Well  the  secret  is  out !  He  is  a 
Count,  and  his  name  is  Borgia,  Count  Gasparone  Alessandro 
Borgia,  a  scion  of  the  illustrious  family  of  that  name — just 
think  of  it !  He  betrayed  himself  to  Ada  in  an  unguarded 
moment.  He  was  stripped  of  his  patrimony  by  confiscation, 
and  adopted  his  present  vocation  the  better  to  elude  the  ma- 
lignity of  his  enemies,  who  are  continually  seeking  to  perse- 
cute him.  Who  those  enemies  are,  I  do  not  clearly  under- 
stand. Sometimes  he  says  they  are  the  Jesuits,  and  at  other 
times  he  accuses  Mazzini  and  the  red-republicans.  He  hints 


GILDEBSLEEVE.  303 


also  at  hereditary  foes  of  his  house,  the  Orsini  and  SforzL 
Evidently  he  shrinks  with  intuitive  delicacy  from  speaking  of 
himself  and  his  misfortunes,  and  feels  his  position  keenly. 
Ada  caught  him  in  tears  once  or  twice  mourning  the  deca- 
dence of  his  house.  He  assured  her,  on  his  word  of  honor,  that 
all  the  stories  that  were  in  circulation  respecting  the  poisoning 
propensities  of  his  family  are  malicious  falsehoods,  and  is  very 
indignant  at  the  outrageous  way  in  which  the  dramatists  have 
treated  his  distinguished  ancestress  —  and  I  don't  wonder  at 
his  anger.  I  think  he  says  she  was  his  great-great-grand- 
aunt  ;  but  I  won't  be  certain.  Since  we  have  learned  his 
title  and  rank,  we  have  all  felt  a  delicacy  in  treating  Kim  as 
a  courier.  Mr.  Mumbie  almost  insisted  on  his  taking  his 
meals  with  us,  but  he  firmly,  and  dignifiedly  refused,  which  I 
think  was  very  honorable  in  him,  don't  you  ?  I  flatter  myself 
not  a  little  on  my  sagacity  and  knowledge  of  people  that  I 
felt  certain  the  moment  I  saw  him  that  he  was  no  ordinary 
person.  The  seal  of  high  birth  is  unmistakably  set  on  his 
noble  brow  and  statuesque  features  ;  and  then,  O  Constance, 
such  eyes  !  such  flashing,  melting  orbs  I  .... 

The  Fosters  leave  for  home  next  week.  I  intrusted  them 
with  a  present  for  you  which  they  kindly  consented  to  de- 
liver. It's  a  turquoise  set,  and  I  hope  it  will  suit  you.  I'm. 
sure  it  will  be  becoming.  I  did  intend  to  surprise  you  with 
it  myself,  but  it's  so  uncertain  when  we  shall  return  that  I 
thought  I  would  avail  of  the  opportunity  to  send  it  at  once. 
Please  accept  the  set  with  the  best  love  of 

Ever  yours, 

EDNA. 


304:  MATMT  GILDEESLEEVE. 


XVIII. 

IT  is  not  our  purpose  to  follow  Mark  closely  in 
his  career  during  the  war.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
after  his  exchange  he  had  rejoined  his  corps,  and 
taken  part  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Gettysburg, 
where  the  legions  of  the  South,  flushed  with  vic- 
tory, were  checked  in  their  advance  on  Northern 
soil,  and  driven  back  by  the  Union  soldiers. 
With  steady  courage  he  perseveringly  sought  lau- 
rels. His  gallant  bearing  on  several  occasions  at- 
tracted the  notice  of  his  superior  officers,  and  his 
noteworthy  conduct  in  leading  an  attack  on  the 
forces  of  General  Imboden  on  the  Cashtown  road, 
whereby  a  large  number  of  rebels  were  cut  off 
and  captured,  won  him  the  grade  of  major.  The 
young  fellow,  as  we  mentioned,  started  in  life  with 
an  unusual  stock  of  vanity,  fortunately  counter- 
balanced by  a  chivalrous  spirit  and  scorn  of  the 
mean.  Much  of  this  vanity  had  been  eliminated, 
probably  on  the  homoeopathic  principle  of  like 
curing  Life,  for  his  profession  was  one  decidedly 


MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE.  305 

calculated  to  foster  that  weakness.  He  was  sensi- 
ble enough,  however,  to  avoid  the  arrogance  en- 
gendered by  the  possession  of  authority  of  which 
he  saw  so  many  examples,  and  better  still  to  pre- 
serve his  soul  from  that  callousness  and  ferocity 
which  are  the,  worst  fruits  of  horrid  war.  He 
felt  the  insidious  approaches  of  the  baleful  influ- 
ences, but  resisted.  Bearing  in  mind,  also,  his  old 
friend's  injunction  to  beware  of  the  sway  of  preju- 
dice over  reason,  he  strove  to  be  just  and  unbi- 
£ssed.  There  was  some  of  the  old  paladin  spirit 
in  Mark.  He  recognized  among  the  enemy  many 
who  were  as  earnest  and  sincere  in  their  cause  as 
he  was  in  his ;  perhaps  he  was  frequently  led  to 
think  that  the  advantage  in  that  respect  was  on 
their  side,  as  he  saw  with  inexpressible  disgust  the 
host  of  mercenaries  whose  sole  thought  was  how 
to  turn  their  country's  misfortunes  to  profit,  and, 
worse  than  all,  lukewarm,  disobedient  generals, 
sacrificing  their  soldiers'  lives  to  gratify  some 
pique  or  partisan  feeling.  His  blood  boiled, 
too,  at  the  unmentioned  cruelties  practised  on  the 
unfortunate  race  who  had  been  the  innocent  cause 
of  the  fratricidal  strife.  This  sympathy  very 
nearly  led  him  into  serious  trouble  on  one  occa- 


306  MAliK   GILDER8LEEVE. 

sion.  Among  the  regiments  in  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  were  several  recruited  from  the  dregs  of 
the  large  cities  of  the  North.  Many  of  these  men 
were  without  respect  for  their  flag,  and  capable 
of  any  deed,  or  ready  for  any  adventure  that 
promised  plunder  or  diversion.  It  was  a  common 
practice  with  them  to  shoot  at  any  negro  they 
found  astray,  in  the  vicinity  of  their  camp. 
Mark,  while  away  by  himself  one  day  in  Virginia, 
came  across  a  party  of  these  fellows  on  some 
marauding  expedition.  Presently  one  of  them 
espied  a  negro  standing  at  the  door  of  his  cabin, 
near  the  edge  of  a  wood,  and  without  more  ado, 
raised  his  musket  and  shot  him  dead.  So  enraged 
was  Mark  at  this  wanton  murder,  that,  unable  to 
contain  himself,  he  drew  his  revolver  and  sent 
a  bullet  into  the  assassin.  He  fell,  seriously 
wounded.  His  companions  were  about  to  retali- 
ate, but  intimidated  by  the  major's  bearing,  and 
somewhat  by  his  rank,  hesitated,  and  concluded 
to  report  him  at  headquarters.  The  matter  re- 
sulted in  a  court-martial,  but  Mark  was  acquit- 
ted with  a  reprimand. 

War  either  makes  or  mars  a  man.     The  soul  is 
drawn  so  completely  out  of  the  commonplace 


307 


grooves  of  ordinary  life,  so  far  from  the  shrink- 
ing influences  of  wealth-seeking,  and  into  an 
arena  where  emotions  and  passions  contend  so 
fiercely  for  mastery,  that  it  comes  out  of  the  ordeal 
either  sensibly  debased  or  refined.  Fortunately 
for  Mark,  it  had  purified  his  character;  had 
given  him  a  broader  view  of  the  aim  and  scope  of 
life,  enabling  his  will  to  crush  out  all  vain  hopes 
and  envious  desires,  and  find  his  pleasure  in  the 
performance  of  his  duty  and  the  approbation  of 
his  conscience.  In  short,  he  had  become  a  true 
man.  To  how  many,  however,  did  the  campaign 
prove  a  curse  —  how  many  contracted  indolence, 
and  habits  that  unfitted  them  for  the  avocations  of 
peace,  or  exchanged  their  rectitude  and  purity 
of  heart  for  vicious  tastes  that  embittered  their 
future  lives. 

Time  passed.  Mark  became  attached  to  Gen- 
eral H  -  's  staff,  and  spent  many  months  before 
Petersburg.  It  was  there  he  performed  an  ex- 
ploit which  has  remained  legendary  in  the  annala 
of  the  war.  During  a  night  attack  on  one  of  our 
batteries,  the  rebels  had  succeeded  in  spiking  a 
siege-gun  which  commanded  their  position,  while 
it  protected  our  working  parties  of  sappers.  As 


308  MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

soon  as  the  piece  was  rendered  useless,  the  ene- 
my's sharp-shooters,  swarming  in  rifle-pits  close  to 
our  lines,  seriously  impeded  further  progress  on 
our  part.  Yexed  at  this  interruption,  the  com- 
mander called  for  volunteers  to  unspike  the  gun  ; 
but  as  this  involved  getting  on  the  breech,  and 
becoming  a  target  for  the  foe  while  the  work 
lasted,  no  one  seemed  willing  to  undertake  it. 
In  this  dilemma,  Mark,  being  known  as  a  skilled 
machinist,  was  consulted ;  and  after  an  examina- 
tion, he  reported  in  favor  of  the  practicability  of 
the  job,  while  admitting  the  extreme  peril  attend- 
ing it.  Perhaps  any  intention  of  executing  it 
would  have  been  abandoned,  had  not  a  comment, 
made  by  one  of  the  men  to  another,  to  the  effect 
that  it  was  easy  for  officers  to  set  tasks  for  pri- 
vates which  they  were  not  willing  to  do  them- 
selves, been  accidentally  overheard  by  Mark, 
which  stung  him  immediately  into  offering  to 
accomplish  the  hazardous  feat.  Armed  with 
several  well-tempered  bits  and  a  brace,  he  went 
forth  at  nightfall  on  his  perilous  errand.  Strad- 
dling the  breech  of  the  monstrous  cannon,  and 
crouching  as  low  as  possible,  with  the  brace 
against  his  chest,  he  plied  the  drill  vigorously. 


MAKK  GILDEESLEEVE.  309 

Scarcely  had  he  begun  to  work,  when  he  was 
perceived  by  the  vigilant  rebel  marksmen,  who 
immediately  opened  fire.  He  could  see  the  long 
rifle-pit,  not  a  hundred  yards  distant,  ablaze  with 
the  flash  of  fifty  rifles,  and  feel  the  wind  of  their 
bullets  as  they  whistled  past  him.  Fortunately, 
favored  somewhat  by  the  obscurity,  but  far  more 
by  good  luck,  he  remained  unscathed,  save  by  a 
skin-grazing  touch.  In  fifteen  minutes  (it  seemed 
to  him  an  hour)  the  vent  was  clear ;  a  primer  and 
lanyard  were  then  passed  up  to  him,  and  these 
affixed,  he  slipped  off  the  cannon  as  quick  as  pos- 
sible. Seeing  him  drop,  the  rebels  imagined  they 
had  shot  him,  and  sent  up  a  yell  of  exultation, 
which  was  suddenly  checked  as  a  discharge  of 
grape  from  the  liberated  gun  scattered  death 
among  them.  Mark  was  not  destined  to  escape 
entirely  uninjured,  for  in  his  haste  to  get  off  the 
gun,  and  anxiety  to  avoid  any  danger  from  its 
recoil,  he  fell  heavily,  and  was  picked  up  with  a 
dislocated  shoulder.  This  accident,  however,  en- 
tailed but  a  short  confinement,  and  he  was  soon 
able  to  be  on  duty  again.  Needless  to  add,  that 
Mark  received  full  meed  of  praise  for  his  daring 


.310  MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

achievement,  which  furthermore  earned  him  the 
grade  of  colonel. 

In  this  his  hour  of  triumph  and  full  flush  of 
gratified  vanity,  one  thought  was  constant  and 
uppermost.  How  would  Edna  receive  the  news 
of  his  renown  ?  If  she  felt  but  one  momentary 
responsive  throb  of  pride,  he  was  repaid,  and  re- 
paid a  hundred-fold,  for  all  he  had  risked  and 
undergone.  But  would  she  hear  of  him  ?  Where 
was  she  ?  Although  he  had  written  her  several 
letters  he  had  received  none  from  her,  since  the 
one  announcing  her  departure  for  Europe.  Her 
silence  was  unaccountable.  So  long  a  time  had 
elapsed  that  he  began  to  despond.  "  Well,  well," 
thought  he,  "  it's  inexplicable,  and  useless  to  in- 
dulge in  conjectures.  I'll  not  do  her  the  injus- 
tice to  believe  that  it  is  intentional  neglect  on 
her  part.  We'll  see  what  it  all  means  when  she 
returns.  Meanwhile  I  must  console  myself  by 
re-reading  her  old  epistles." 

He  occasionally  received  a  communication 
from  his  sister-in-law,  who  kept  him  advised  of 
all  the  Belton  gossip — births,  deaths,  marriages, 
and  so  forth.  At  length  one  came,  conveying 
the  welcome  intelligence  that  the  Mumbies  and 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  311 

their  fair  charge  had  returned  home.  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve  stated  that  she  had  seen  Miss  Heath, 
and  that  she  was  looking  remarkably  well,  bnt 
exceedingly  grand  and  dignified  ;  adding,  "  Yon 
would  hardly  know  your  old  sweetheart,  now, 
Mark.  She  holds  her  head  as  high  as  a  queen, 
and  goes  sweeping  through  the  streets  as  if  the 
earth  were  not  good  enough  for  her  to  tread  on. 
I  do  not  think,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  that  travelling 
has  improved  her  a  bit."  This  was  uncommonly 
severe  criticism  to  come  from  the  worthy  lady, 
and  amazed  Mark ;  but  perhaps  her  opinion  was 
somewhat  colored  by  the  fact  that  Miss  Heath 
had,  unintentionally  or  otherwise,  neglected  to 
return  Mrs.  Gildersleeve's  bow  ;  an  omission  cer- 
tainly sufficient  to  bias  the  judgment  of  the  least 
prejudiced  woman  who  respects  herself. 

There  was  a  lull  in  the  conflict.  The  shock  of 
arms  and  bruit  of  war  gave  place  to  the  patient, 
silent  work  of  the  engineer.  Inch  by  inch,  the 
Union  army  advanced  its  lines  of  investment, 
and  slowly  the  constricting  circle  was  closing. 
Dull  monotony  succeeded,  broken  only  by  the 
occasional  bursting  of  a  shell  over  the  trenches, 


312  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

or  the  crack  of  a  sharp-shooter's  rifle  and  ping 
of  bullet,  startling  some  too  venturesome  spec- 
tator. Apart  from  this,  all  was  inaction  or  weary 
routine.  Deeming  it  a  favorable  time  to  apply 
for  leave  of  absence,  and  longing  to  see  Edna, 
Mark  sought  and  obtained  a  furlough,  and  was 
speedily  on  his  way  north. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  the  Colonel's 
feelings  as  he  approached  his  home.  The  antici- 
pated delight  of  meeting  his  friends,  relatives, 
and  above  all,  Edna,  was  mingled  with  a  vague 
sense  of  apprehension — a  premonition  of  some 
disappointment  that  he  could  not  shake  off.  He 
had  been  away  fall  three  years.  It  seemed  to 
tiim  at  least  ten;  and  he  dreaded  to  be  con- 
fronted by  unpleasant  changes.  Belton,  at  least, 
was  still  the  same,  and  in  its  usual  quiet  mood. 
Contrary  to  the  expectations  of  many  of  its  inhabi- 
tants it  had  not  as  yet  been  invaded  by  the  Reb- 
els ;  still,  as  untiring  vigilance  was  the  price  of 
liberty  and  safety  the  "  Home  Guard  "  kept  up 
its  organization  and  weekly  drills,  under  the 
patriotic  supervision  of  Captain  George  Gilder- 
sleeve.  The  first  thing  that  attracted  Mark's  at- 
tention, as  he  passed  up  Main  Street,  was  a  full- 


GILDEE8LEE  V  15.  313 


length  colored  photograph  in  Snopple's  show-case, 
of  his  brother,  in  all  his  panoply,  figuring  con- 
spicuously in  company  with  portraits  of  Generals 
Grant  and  Sherman. 

Mark  had  hardly  been  in  the  town  five  min- 
utes, before  the  fact  was  known  from  one  end  of 
it  to  the  other  ;  and  Dr.  Wattletop  devoted  him- 
self to  informing  everybody  he  met,  that  Mark 
Gildersleeve  had  returned  from  the  "  wars,  bear- 
ing his  blushing  honors  thick  upon  him." 

Of  course  the  fatted  calf  was  figuratively  killed 
by  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  and  the  doctor  took  tea  at 
her  table  that  evening,  and  a  joyful  meal  it  was. 
The  colonel  noticed  a  marked  change  in  his  old 
friend.  Age  was  shrinking  his  once  rotund 
form,  and  his  countenance  wore  the  expression  of 
one  seeking  rest  after  a  strife  with  life.  His 
disputative  spirit  was  apparently  quenched,  as  he 
evinced  no  disposition  to  take  up  several  thorny 
assertions  on  the  part  of  the  doughty  captain  of 
the  "  Home  Guards,"  who  monopolized  the  con- 
versation. This  martinet  criticised  very  severely 
the  dilatory  and  bungling  way  in  which  the  war 
was  carried  on,  and  set  forth  a  plan  of  operations 

of  his  own,  which,  he  was  ready  to  back  with  any 
14 


314  MAEK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

amount  of  money,  would,  if  carried  out  by  the 
commander-iii-chief,  bring  the  rebels  to  terms 
in  the  short  space  of  time  limited  to  three  shakes 
of  a  sheep's  tail.  No  one  had  a  stronger  belief 
in  himself  than  George  Gildersleeve.  It  was  a 
faith,  too,  that  increased  with  his  years  and  pros- 
perity, and  perhaps  had  contributed  not  a  little 
to  the  latter. 

As  for  the  young  colonel,  he  was  singularly 
taciturn.  Perhaps  a  little  disappointed  in  find- 
ing that  his  lady-love  had  left  the  town,  albeit 
it  did  not  mitigate  in  any  great  degree  the 
pleasure  he  felt  in  being  once  more  in  his  old 
home.  Certainly  his  appetite  was  not  affected ; 
and  the  quantity  of  clover-honey,  of  preserves, 
both  quince  and  crab-apple,  of  stewed  oysters, 
of  Sally  Lunn,  and  waffles  he  consumed,  were 
sufficient  to  give  an  able-bodied  ostrich  a  gastric 
derangement. 

After  the  meal  they  sat  in  the  little  parlor. 
Mark  opened  his  long-neglected  piano  and  tried 
a  few  bars  of  a  favorite  Nocture  /  but  his  stiff  fin- 
gers made  poor  work  of  it.  It  was  pleasanter  to 
sit  beside  his  second  mother.  There  were  a  few 
more  silver  threads  in  her  smooth  hair,  but  her  se- 


MARK  GILDEESLEEVE.  315 

rene,  loving  face  seemed  to  him  as  young  as  ever. 
Presently  the  Reverend  Samuel  and  Mrs.  Snif- 
fen  dropped  in,  for  whom  the  colonel  had  to 
fight  his  battles  o'er  again. 

"  And  how  about  that  exploit  of  yours,  un- 
spiking  the  cannon?  We've  all  heard  of  it, 
colonel,"  said  the  minister.  "Mrs.  Bradbury's 
son,  who  was  there  at  the  time,  wrote  a  full  ac- 
count of  it  home,  but  we  want  to  listen  to  it  from 
your  lips." 

"Yes,  yes,  Hotspur,  out  with  it,"  added  the 
doctor.  The  red  shone  through  Mark's  gypsy 
cheek,  as  he  gave  a  confused  and  stammering 
recital  of  the  incident ;  and  he  felt  decidedly  re- 
lieved, when  he  had  concluded,  at  his  brother's 
blunt  remark  that  he  deserved  to  have  been  shot 
for  his  pains,  as  no  one  but  a  fool  or  a  crazy  man 
would  have  attempted  such  a  job. 

"  Mercy,  George,  don't  say  that ! "  said  Mrs. 
Gildersleeve,  who  had  been  listening,  pale  and 
with  a  shudder,  to  Mark's  narrative.  v 

"  George  is  right,"  replied  Mark ;  "  it  was  noth- 
ing but  a  foolhardy  freak,  done  on  the  spur  of 
the  moment ;  and  I  would  not  have  attempted 
it  if  I  had  taken  time  to  reflect." 


316  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

I 

The  colonel  was  rather  anxious  to  slur  the 
feat;  for,  on  analyzing  the  motives  that  impelled 
him  to  its  performance,  he  was  obliged  to  confess 
that  it  was  pricked  vanity  and  the  desire  to  win 
Edna's  admiration,  rather  than  any  stern  sense  of 
duty  or  devotion  to  his  flag. 

"  You  never  wrote  me  a  word  of  all  this,  Mark," 
said  his  sister-in-law,  reproachfully.  "  However, 
perhaps  it  is  just  as  well ; "  and  addressing  Mr. 
Sniffen,  who  was  about  taking  his  departure,  she 
asked  him  if  he  would,  before  leaving,  kindly 
lead  in  prayer,  so  that  they  might  all  return 
thanks  for  the  safe  return  and  preservation  of 
Mark  from  so  many  dangers.  "You  will  join 
us,  will  you  not,  doctor?" 

"  Most  certainly,  my  dear  lady,"  was  the  reply ; 
and  the  old  materialist,  who  had  sought  with  a 
scalpel  for  the  soul  in  a  cadaver,  the  stoic,  the 
Pythagorean,  knelt  and  united  in  sincere  devo- 
tion to  the  Father  of  all,  whom  we  worship,  each 
after  his  own  little  system,  way,  or  fashion. 

After  the  departure  of  the  guests,  the  circle 
around  the  grate-fire  was  still  further  narrowed, 
and  Mrs.  Gildersleeve  opened  her  budget  of 
news.  She  first  inquired  of  Mark  if  he  did  not 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  317 

think  the  doctor  had  greatly  changed?  "Yery 
much,"  replied  Mark. 

"  Poor  man/'  continued  Mrs.  Gildersleeve,  "  I 
feel  so  sorry  and  anxious  about  him.  He  has 
lost  a  great  deal  of  his  practice — almost  all  the 
paying  part  of  it.  He  has  still  a  host  of  patients, 
but  they  are  mostly  among  the  poor,  from  whom 
he  gets  little  or  no  pay.  I  believe  if  he  had  all 
the  money  due  him  he  would  be  rich ;  but  he 
never  tries  to  collect  anything.  About  six 
months  ago  his  dog  died — that  large  black  one, 
that  was  always  with  him;  and  he  cried  like  a 
child,  said  he  had  lost  his  best  friend,  and 
wrote  a  very  singular  obituary,  that  was  published 
in  the  paper.  After  that  he  took  to  drinking 
very  freely ;  and  one  day  while  under  the  in- 
fluence he  struck  with  his  cane  a  teamster  who 
was  beating  a  horse ;  and  the  man  had  him 
arrested,  and  if  it  hadn't  been  for  your  brother, 
the  doctor  would  have  been  put  in  jail." 

"  I  think  he  served  the  teamster  right,"  re- 
marked her  husband,  "  only  he  didn't  give  him 
half  enough." 

"Yery  likely;  but  the  doctor  made  such  a 
ridiculous  speech  about  it  in  court.  Spoke 


318  MARK   GLLDEKSLEEVE. 

about  animals  having  reason  and  souls,  and  that 
some  men  were  inferior  animals  to  the  brutes ; 
and  accused  the  clergy  of  cowardice  in  shirking 
the  question  of  the  connection  and  duty  of  man 
to  his  fellow-animals,  and  a  lot  more  of  such 
stuff.  To  be  sure  he  was  under  great  excitement. 
Mr.  Sniff  en  thinks  the  doctor  got  those  perverted 
notions  from  living  so  long  in  India  among  the 
heathen.  Since  that  time  the  doctor  has  not 
been  the  same  man.  He  never  touches  a  drop  of 
anything,  and  he  is  always  grave.  He  has  failed, 
too,  very  much.  Poor  man  !  I  feel  so  distressed 
about  him,  and  was  so  rejoiced  to  see  him  join 
with  us  this  evening  in  prayer.  It  is  certainly 
very  hard  for  a  man  of  his  years,  for  he  must  be 
eighty,  to  be  left  without  any  one,  away  from 
relatives.  I  should  so  like  to  help  him  if  I  knew 
how  to  approach  him  without  offending  him. 
He  is  such  a  very  peculiar  person." 

"  It  is  his  own  fault,"  said  George.  "  I  offered 
to  run  him  for  coroner,  or  put  him  in  as  county 
physician,  if  he'd  get  naturalized  and  become  a 
citizen ;  but  the  pig-headed  old  duffer  got  as  in- 
dignant as  if  I'd  insulted  him  ;  talked  about  his 
sovereign  and  her  Gracious  Majesty,  until  I  shut 


MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE.  319 

him  up.  So  he's  no  one  to  blame  but  himself. 
Ten  o'clock,  eh  ?  I'm  off  to  bed.  I  suppose  you 
and  Maggie  will  talk  here  for  three  hours  yet ; " 
and  George  retired  with  a  stretch  and  a  yawn. 

When  they  were  alone,  Mrs.  Gildersleeve 
touched  on  the  topic  nearest  to  her  brother-in- 
law's  heart.  It  was  done  in  the  light  of  an 
apology.  She  said :  "  In  one  of  my  letters,  I  am 
ashamed  to  say,  I  spoke  censoriously  and  un- 
justly of  Miss  Heath,  and  I  wish  to  take  it  all 
back  ;  but  it  shows  how  particular  we  ought  to 
be  not  to  judge  hastily.  Miss  Heath,  I  suppose 
you  know,  has  come  into  her  property,  and  her 
first  thought  and  care  is  to  carry  out  her  father's 
intentions  about  building  those  charitable  insti- 
tutions. It  will  cost  ever  so  much.  I  believe 
Mr.  Mumbie  tried  to  prevent  or  rather  persuade 
her  not  to  lay  out  so  much  money,  but  she 
wouldn't  listen  to  it;  and  they  say  is  even  go- 
ing to  speud  more;  but  that's  just  like  Edna 
Heath." 

How  intensely  the  colonel's  heart  indorsed 
that  opinion.  "  "Where  is  she  now  ? "  he  inquired. 

"  She's  living  in  New  York,  with  the  Mumbies. 
You  must  certainly  pay  her  a  visit,  and  renew 


320  MAKE  GILDERSLEEVE. 

your  old  acquaintance.     Mr.  Mumbie  sold  out 
his  paper-mill,  and  has  retired  from  business." 

An  hour  or  more  of  such  conversation  and 
Mark  withdrew,  to  find  himself  again  in  his  little 
bedroom.  Nothing  was  disturbed.  There  was 
his  bookcase  with  its  narrow  desk,  where  he  had 
passed  so  many  hours  in  brain-racking  devotions 
to  the  immortal  Nine ;  and  as  he  glanced  over 
the  turgid  lines  of  some  uncompleted  poem  in  the 
portfolio,  his  smile  justified  the  belief  that  time 
brought  its  own  severe  criticism  to  poetasters. 
There  lay  in  their  accustomed  places  his  guitar 
and  zithern,  and  over  his  bed-head  hung,  as  of 
yore,  the  engraving  of  Carlo  Dolce's  Mater  Dolo- 
rosa,  whose  exquisite  mouth  and  chin  were  but 
counterparts  of  Edna's.  It  was  so  natural  to  lie 
in  the  bed  where  he  had  slept  since  childhood ; 
and  he  seemed  to  breathe  such  an  atmosphere  of 
peace  and  quietude,  that  the  tremendous  events 
he  had  passed  through  during  three  years,  seemed 
like  a  hiatus  in  his  life,  or  a  dream.  Did  the 
war  exist?  Here,  all  was  tranquillity  undis- 
•  turbed  by  alarms  ;  but  away  on  the  banks  of  the 
Appomattox,  his  brethren  in  arms  slept  in  sus- 


MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE.  321 

pense ;  the  vigilant  picket  watched  the  wily  foe ; 
the  bursting  shell  tore  the  limbs  of  some  sleeping 
soldier,  and  starving  conscripts,  in  butternut  rags, 
were  flying  from  the  rebel  trenches  to  hospitable 
imprisonment  within  the  Union  lines.  Such 
thoughts  filled  Mark's  mind  as  he  tossed  uneasily 
on  his  downy  couch  and  soft  fringed  pillow, 
until,  to  court  slumber,  he  was  obliged  to  wrap 
himself  in  a  blanket,  and  seek  repose  on  the  hard 
floor. 

The  next  morning,  in  his  impatience  to  see  Edna, 
he  would  have  started  at  once  for  the  metropolis, 
but  there  were  his  old  associates  at  the  Works, 
who  could  not  be  neglected.  He  went  there,  and 
shook  hands  with  them  all,  from  Knatchbull  to 
the  youngest  apprentice.  How  they  all  crowded 
around  and  questioned  him,  and  seemed  to  be  as 
much  interested  in  him  as  if  he  belonged  to  them, 
while  his  brother  stood  by  with  an  approving 
look,  as  if  the  colonel  were  entirely  the  product 
of  his  care  and  training.  Mark  found  the  Works 
still  further  enlarged  ;  for  his  brother's  business 
had  increased  prodigiously,  and  George,  while  al- 
luding to  this,  did  not  fail  to  remark  to  the  colonel, 

with  a  spice  of  malice,  that  if  he  had  remained  at 
14* 


322  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

home  and  accepted  the  partnership,  he  would  by 
this  time  have  possessed  a  small  fortune.  "  A  clear 
hundred  thousand  were  the  profits  last  year — a 
clear  hundred  thousand.  What  do  you  think  of 
that,  old  man  ?  "  But  the  old  man,  as  he  affection- 
ately called  him,  did  not  seem  to  think  much 
about  it,  for  he  merely  replied,  "  Glad  to  hear 
of  it  for  your  sake,"  and  seemed  as  indifferent  as 
ever  to  such  favors.  George  then  said,  as  a  con- 
solatory offset,  "  Whenever  you  want  to  come 
back,  you're  welcome.  Your  old  place  is  waiting 
for  you,  and  it  will  pay  you  better  than  soldiering 
in  the  end." 

Then  there  was  the  visit  to  the  Falls.  No  true 
Beltonian  returning  from  a  long  absence  ever 
failed  to  pay  his  devoirs  at  that  shrine.  It  seemed 
as  if  the  old  legend  of  the  Indians,  that  the  Great 
Spirit  abided  there,  had  perpetuated  itself,  and 
found  believers  among  their  white  successors. 
Mark  passed  an  hour  of  the  fine  January  fore- 
noon in  pleasant  contemplation  near  the  cataract. 
It  was  an  old  friend.  Its  roar,  its  crags,  its 
emerald  waters  were  familiar  to  him  from  child- 
hood, when  he  spent  holidays  around  the  pebbly 
shores  seeking  flint  arrow-heads,  or  in  older  years 


GILDEBSLEEVE.  323 


when  he  resorted  thither  to  derive  inspiration  and 
metaphorically  court  the  nymphs  and  dryads. 
The  torrent  that  sped  on  in  sublime  and  unceas- 
ing monotone  had  measured  his  existence  like 
a  clepsydra. 

Mark  extended  his  walk  to  the  cliff  —  to  the 
villa  that  had  seemed  to  him  a  very  palace  of  en- 
chantment, and  around  which  so  many  blissful 
associations  clustered.  Here  was  the  spot  where 
he  had  made  his  first  avowal  of  love,  and  he 
could  almost  recall  the  novel,  delicious  thrill 
with  which  he  pressed  Edna's  hand  to  his  lips. 
Now  the  gates  were  chained  and  locked,  and 
their  lamps  broken  by  vagrant  boys  ;  the  lodge 
was  tenantless  ;  the  marble  basin  of  the  fountain 
choked  with  dead  leaves,  and  its  spouting  swans 
decapitated  ;  the  grounds  neglected,  and  the 
windows  of  the  imposing  structure  blinded. 
How  sad  and  deserted  an  aspect  !  How  changed 
the  place  —  once  the  abode  of  "  elegant  Euno- 
mia,"  the  goddess  of  his  dreams!  He  remem- 
bered his  surreptitious  visit  and  eavesdropping 
the  night  of  Edna's  party.  Where  were  all  that 
youth  and  beauty  now?  The  sweeping  wind 


324  MARK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

answered  with  a  dismal  sigh.      "Was  there  any 
omen  in  this  ? 

His  reverie  was  cut  short  by  the  patter  of 
horses'  hoofs  behind  him.  It  was  the  four-in- 
hand  of  Mr.  Nehemiah  Gogglemush,  a  new-comer 
in  Belton,  who  saluted  him  with  a  stare.  This 
man,  who  seemed  ambitious  to  succeed  to  the 
position  of  the  late  maguifico,  was  the  inventor 
of  the  world-famous  "  Terpsichorean  -Ointment," 
a  corn-salve  of  marvellous  virtue^  that  had  brought 
him  a  fortune  correspondingly  marvellous.  He 
had  purchased  a  site  on  the  cliff  and  reared  a 
gorgeous  pile,  all  turrets,  gilt  Tudor-flowers  and 
weathercocks,  which  completely  overshadowed 
Mr.  Mumbie's  dwelling.  Gogglemush  seemed  to 
have  no  end  of  money  and  actually  dared  to  set 
up  a  drag,  while  his  wife  and  daughters  made 
shameful  exhibitions  of  themselves  in  diamonds, 
point -lace,  India  shawls;  and  deported  them- 
selves generally  in  a  way  that  no  person  in 
their  station,  and  connected  with  corn-salve, 
who  had  any  regard  for  public  opinion,  would 
venture  to.  Moreover,  at  church  the  Misses 
Adela  and  Angela  Gogglemush,  in  all  their 
odious  finery,  monopolized  the  attention  of  the 


MAKE  GHDEESLEEVB.  325 

congregation,  and  even  the  rector  was  reported  to 
be  not  indifferent  to  the  attractions  of  the  younger 
of  the  two. 

Of  coarse  it  was  impossible  for  the  Mumbles 
to  live  in  constant  proximity  to  such  vulgarity, 
and  especially  as  there  was  absolutely  no  one 
now  in  the  place,  except  Judge  Hull's  family, 
with  whom  they  could  associate,  as  Mrs.  Mumbie 
said,  they  had  been  forced  to  remove  to  New 
York. 

On  his  return  Mark  stopped  for  a  moment  at 
St.  Jude's.  The  sexton  wanted  to  show  him  the 
beautiful  memorial  windows,  presented  by  Miss 
Heath  in  honor  of  her  father  and  mother.  Mark 
peopled  the  edifice  with  its  old  frequenters — with 
handsome,  refined  Mr.  Heath,  dignifiedly  conde- 
scending, as  if  he  were  willing  to  meet  his  Maker 
half  way ;  with  Edna's  sweet,  uplifted,  attentive 
profile;  devout,  slow- winking  Mrs.  Applegate, 
and  in  the  opposite  pew,  pompous  Mr.  Mumbie, 
who  occupied  one  corner  with  such  upright,  un- 
varying exactitude,  that  he  served  as  a  sundial 
to  Mark  to  measure  the  service,  when  the  purple 
ray  from  a  lancet-window  moved  over  the  capa- 
cious white  waistcoat  of  the  portly  paper-maker. 


326  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

The  new-comers  had  taken  possession  of  that  pew 
now,  for  Mark  saw  in  it  several  richly  bound  oc- 
tavo prayer-books,  stamped  with  the  name  Goggle- 
mush,  hideous  in  Gothic  text. 

Mark  now  proceeded  to  call  on  Dr.  "Wattletop. 
The  information  in  regard  to  the  latter's  pecuni- 
ary condition,  imparted  by  Mrs.  Gildersleeve, 
troubled  her  brother-in-law,  and  he  was  anxious 
to  offer  any  assistance  that  the  physician  was 
likely  to  accept;  but  when  the  colonel,  after 
much  hesitation  and  circumlocution,  hinted  at 
his  desire,  Dr.  Wattletop  cut  him  short  with  a 
"  Thanks — thanks,  my  dear  boy,  I'm  quite  easy. 
Tou  must  know  that  Miss  Heath  has  requested 
me  to  accept,  at  a  handsome  salary,  the  position  of 
physician-in-chief  to  the  hospital  she  is  erecting 
for  the  county.  Noble  girl,  that — though  T  don't 
know  after  all  that  she's  doing  any  more  than  her 
duty,"  he  hastened  to  add,  fearing  that  he  might 
have  been  betrayed  into  admiration  or  approval 
of  generosity.  "  The  world,  though,  is  so  consti- 
tuted, so  warped  from  all  ideas  of  justice,  that 
the  mere  performance  of  a  single  act  of  duty  is 
greeted  with  applause.  Sad  commentary,  that. 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  327 

Pokemore  is  associated  with  me  in  the  manage- 
ment. There  was  an  effort  made  to  foist  this 
humbug  Keene  upon  us.  But  Pokemore  and  I 
at  once  declared  that  we  would  not  listen  to  it, 
and  should  consider  it  an  insult  and  resign  at 
once  if  this  ignoramus  and  quack  were  attached 
in  any  way  to  the  institution.  "We  carried  our 
point,  of  course." 

Mark  reflected  on  this  instance  of  inconsistency 
in  the  doctor.  Tolerant  and  unprejudiced  he 
was  towards  every  system  and  opinion  save  one — 
the  one  that  attacked  his  professional  judgment, 
'and  therefore  self-love. 

The  doctor  had  grown  garrulous  with  age,  and 
gave  Mark  a  long  and  circumstantial  account  of 
the  illness  and  last  hours  of  Dagon;  and  then 
branched  off  into  the  exposition  of  some  of  his 
theories  respecting  future  existence.  All  this  was 
listened  to  with  respectful  impatience  by  the  col- 
onel, who  was  eager  to  return  home  and  prepare 
himself  to  take  the  afternoon  train  to  New  York. 
He  was  disappointed  in  this  intention,  for  he 
found  himself  obliged  to  attend  a  little  tea-party 
that  evening,  given  by  Mrs.  Snrffen  in  honor  of 
his  return. 


328  MARK  GILDEE8LEEVE. 


XIX. 

THE  next  day  Mark  arrived  in  New  York.  He 
alighted  at  the  "Albemarle"  and  proceeded  at 
once  to  make  himself  as  presentable  as  his  worn 
uniform  would  permit,  and  after  a  deal  of  brush- 
ing came  out  almost  as  smart-looking  as  a  West 
Point  cadet.  As  the  time  for  the  longed-for 
meeting  neared,  an  unaccountable  timidity  seized 
him,  and  it  required  more  screwing  up  of  his 
courage  to  ring  the  door-bell  of  Mr.  Mumbie's 
house,  than  it  would  to  have  made  him  charge  a 
battery.  The  new  residence  of  the  Mmnbies  was 
one  of  those  extravagant  structures  that  line  the 
Fifth  Avenue,  and  costly  enough  to  be  the  doraicil 
of  a  duke.  Mark  asked  to  see  Miss  Heath.  The 
domestic  who  answered  his  ring  replied  that  he 
did  not  know  whether  she  were  in  or  not,  but 
would  go  and  see — would  the  gentleman  give  his 
name? 

Mark  sent  up  a  card  and  the  servant  returned 
with  a  "  not  at  home." 


MAEK  GILDERSLEEVE.  329 

When  would  she  be  in? 

Servant  couldn't  tell — uncertain — didn't  know. 

The  colonel  went  away,  found  some  brother 
officers  at  the  hotel,  and  dined  with  them.  After- 
wards he  returned  to  Mr.  Mumbie's,  but  met  with 
no  better  success ;  Miss  Heath  was  still  "  not  at 
home."  Disappointed  again,  Mark  returned  to 
his  hotel  and  retired  to  his  room  to  smoke  in 
gloomy  meditation  and  solitude.  He  was  debat- 
ing upon  the  propriety  of  calling  again  that  day, 
when  his  privacy  was  invaded  by  one  of  the 
officers  he  had  dined  with.  Being  an  old  comrade 
of  the  colonel,  he  burst  in  unceremoniously, 
"  Where  the  devil  have  you  been,  Gildersleeve  ? 
I've  been  looking  all  over  for  you  the  past  two 
hours.  Want  to  see  you  badly.  What's  the 
matter,  old  boy ;  you  look  awfully  down  in  the 
mouth.  Not  sick,  I  hope  ?  Here,  rouse  up ;  I've 
got  an  invite  for  you  to  a  grand  shine  to-night. 
It's  a  big  blow-out,  and  we'll  have  some  fun." 

Mark  drew  from  its  envelope  an  engraved 
card  imparting  the  information  that  the  pleasure 
of  his  company  was  requested  by  Mrs.  Yan  Spuy- 

tenduyvel  at  No. •  Madison  Square,  on  that 

evening. 


330 


"  What's  this,  major  ? "  inquired  Mark ;  "  Who 
is  Mrs.  Yan  Spuytenduyvel?" 

"  Don't  know  the  Yan  Spuytenduyvels !  Why, 
benighted  boy,  the  Yan  Spuytenduyvels  are  one 
of  the  most  illustrious  and  stupid  families  in  the 
State,  and  of  the  best  blood  of  the  Knickerbock- 
ers. The  wretches  wallow  in  wealth.  Where 
stands  yon  costly  fane  was  once  the  ancestral 
cabbage  plantation  of  the  Yan  Spuytenduyvels. 
However,  that's  neither  here  nor  there.  The 
lady  is  an  old  friend  of  mine,  and  that's  enough. 
Met  her  a  while  ago — mentioned  you — told  her 
you  were  a  good-looking  boy,  battle-scarred,  and 
all  that  sort  o'  thing;  and  she  said,  bring  him 
along,  by  all  means,  and  made  me  promise  be- 
sides. So  don't  look  so  bored ;  go  you  must." 

"  Go,  nonsense !  Why  should  I  go  ?  "  said 
Mark,  in  no  mood  for  trifling.  "  I  don't  know 
this  lady." 

"  I  told  you  that  I  had  recorded  a  solemn  vow 
to  bring  you,  and  you've  got  to  go,  willy-nilly," 
said  the  major,  imperturbably. 

"  But  I've  no  dress  suit,"  expostulated  Mark. 

"  Dress  suit,  hear    the   innocent !     Not   any, 


MAKE   GHDEESLEEVE.  331 

thank  you.  Why,  you  stupid,  you'd  spoil  all  in  a 
swallow-tail  coat.  What  the  deuce  do  you  sup- 
pose Mrs.  Y.  S.  wants  of  you  in  black  with  a 
white  choker  ?  Haven't  you  sense  enough  to  see 
that  all  she  cares  is  to  have  the  proper  comple- 
ment of  gilt  buttons  and  straps  in  her  rooms  ? 
As  for  you,  my  bold  soldier  boy,  you're  no  ac- 
count whatever,  and  she  don't  just  care  two  pins 
for  your  valorous  and  gallant  self  ;  so  be  sensible 
— be  sensible.  Brush  up  your  spread-eagles  and 
prepare ;  but  first  get  sheared,  for  you  look  like 
a  bushwacker  with  those  elf-locks." 

The  advice  was  in  order,  for  Mark,  in  singular 
contrast  with  his  former  scrupulousness  in  that 
respect,  had  become  rather  neglectful  of  his  per- 
sonal appearance,  and  his  long  black  hair  floating 
carelessly  down  his  neck  befitted  the  chief  of  a 
band  of  jay-hawkers  better  than  a  spruce  Federal 
officer.  "  Bestir  yourself,  Gil ;  you  haven't  much 
time,"  added  the  major,  as  a  parting  injunction. 
"I'll  call  for  you  at  ten." 

Ten  o'clock  came,  and  with  it  the  major,  who 
found  Mark  still  in  the  same  attitude,  unprepared, 
and  ruefully  refilling  his  pipe. 

"  Now,  Gildersleeve,  I'll   not  stand  this,"  ex- 


332  MAEK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

claimed  the  lively  major.  "Go  you  must. 
When  I  say  a  thing  I  mean  it ; "  and  in  spite  of 
his  remonstrances  the  reluctant  colonel  was  borne 
off  to  the  ball. 

Their  carriage  left  them  at  the  carpeted  porch 
of  a  sumptuous  residence  fronting  Madison 
Square,  and  a  domestic  directed  them  to  an 
upper  room.  After  a  little  preliminary  adjust- 
ment of  their  toilets,  they  descended  to  the  par- 
lors, to  pay  their  respects  to  their  host  and  hostess. 

The  major  presented  his  friend  the  colonel 
to  Mrs.  Van  Spuyteiiduyvel,  a  tall  dame  with 
massive  shoulders  and  majestic  nose,  who  re- 
turned the  colonel's  bow  with  becoming  haughti- 
ness; and  to  Mr.  Van  Spuytenduyvel,  a  small 
man,  ambushed  in  the  voluminous  skirts  of  his 
ample  consort ;  and  then  the  colonel  and  his 
friend  were  permitted  to  pass  on  and  mingle  in 
the  festal  throng.  The  major  soon  found  an 
attractive  acquaintance  among  the  ladies,  and 
slipped  away,  leaving  Mark  to  shift  for  himself. 
It  was  the  first  time  the  colonel  had  ever  at- 
tended a  fashionable  party,  and  the  brilliancy  of 
the  scene  and  display  of  jewels  and  rich  dresses 
rather  dazzled  him.  A  dull  pastime,  though,  for 


MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  333 

he  saw  none  but  strange  faces.  He  looked  about 
him  in  the  vague  hope  that  perchance  he  might 
meet  the  one  whose  image  occupied  his  thoughts ; 
but  apparently  she  was  not  present.  As  he  stood 
staring  with  an  inquisitive  and  rather  bewildered 
expression,  he  attracted  no  little  attention.  His 
three  years  of  campaigning  certainly  furnished 
an  example  of  how  thoroughly  not  only  the 
mind,  but  its  dial  the  countenance  becomes  sub- 
dued to  what  the  former  works  in.  He  was  now 
the  beau  ideal  of  a  dashing  trooper :  swarthy  and 
sinewy  as  an  Apache  brave,  with  a  decided  chin 
and  glittering  eyes.  The  scar  on  his  brow,  too, 
neither  softened  his  sternness  nor  enhanced  his 
good  looks,  and  he  found  himself  the  object  of 
many  stares  and  audible  remarks  from  ladies  to 
their  escorts  as  to  who  he  was,  and  whether  a 
"  regular  "  or  "  volunteer,"  until,  embarrassed  at 
the  notice  he  attracted,  he  threaded  his  way  to  a 
corner  secure  from  observation. 

The  rooms  were  excessively  crowded,  and  the 
atmosphere  was  heated  with  the  numerous  lights, 
and  heavy  with  the  odors  of  flowers  and  perfumes. 
Regardless  of  all  this,  some  determined  dancers 
were  dashing  along  wildly,  and  whirling  couples 


334:  MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

carromed  like  billiard-balls.  Mark,  inclined  to 
muse,  indulged  in  mental  criticism  of  the  com- 
pany. What  struck  him  most  was  not  the 
weary,  solemn  mien  of  the  elder  guests,  nor  the 
absence  of  frank  joyousness  in  the  young  men, 
but  the  supercilious  nonchalance  and  worldly- 
wise  air  of  the  young  ladies.  Here  and  there 
was  a  modest  flower,  but  many  wore  expressions 
of  bold  self-possession,  that  seemed  to  his  un- 
tutored eyes  to  border  on  effrontery.  Perhaps  a 
harsh  judgment  on  the  part  of  our  captious  col- 
onel, but  it  must  be  remembered  that  he  was  still 
but  a  child  of  nature,  living  in  the  ideal.  His 
poetic  temperament  led  him  to  indulge  in  such 
exalted  fancies  of  the  excellences  of  the  gentler 
sex,  that  when  taken  from  his  dreams  and  placed 
face  to  face  with  the  sophisticated  belles  of  two 
seasons,  he  was  naturally  discountenanced.  To 
one  living  outside  the  pale  of  fashionable  society, 
its  artificiality  is  painfully  apparent.  Presently 
the  colonel's  soldierly  eye  was  attracted  by  the 
erect  figure  of  a  young  lady,  whose  back  was 
towards  him.  Her  shoulders  and  neck  were 
moulded  with  such  perfect  grace,  that  he  was  de- 
sirous to  see  her  face,  and  changing  his  position 


MARK   GILDERStEEVE.  335 

to  do  so,  he  beheld  a  radiant  beauty,  that  recalled 
a  Louis  Quatorze  marchioness.  Powdered  hair 
and  a  patch  enhanced  the  fairness  of  her  com- 
plexion, while  bistred  lashes  gave  an  unnatural 
brilliancy  to  her  eyes.  Her  slender  throat  was 
encircled  by  a  diamond  necklace,  whose  pendent 
cross  flashed  from  a  breast  of  snow,  that  brought 
the  lines  on  Pope's  Belinda  to  mind.  She  was 
toying  with  a  fan,  and  chatting  with  a  group  of 
gentlemen  who  were  evidently  admiring  her,  and 
her  beautiful  simpering  countenance  betrayed 
gratified  vanity.  Mark  scrutinized  her  closely. 
Recollections  of  familiar  features  arose,  and  the 
truth  flashed  to  him  that  this  young  person  was 
Edna. 

But  what  a  change !  Not  now  the  sweet,  modest 
rose  of  Belton,  but  an  egregiously  vain  and  af- 
fected coquette.  So  thought  Mark,  in  whose  un- 
sophisticated eyes  the  transformation  was  com- 
plete and  manifest.  He  watched  her  a  few 
moments  longer.  One  of  her  danglers  was  made 
supremely  happy  by  being  permitted  to  button 
her  glove,  while  another  enjoyed  the  bliss  of 
holding  her  bouquet.  Then  a  third,  a  tight-built 
little  fellow,  with  closely-cropped  hair  accurately 


336  MAKE:   GILDERSIEEVE. 

parted  in  the  centre  of  his  round  head,  a  mus- 
tache of  magnitude,  and  a  crush  hat  in  his  hand, 
gallantly  clasping  her,  led  her  off  in  the  mazes 
of  a  waltz.  It  certainly  was  a  graceful  sight ;  but 
Mark  saw,  or  fancied  he  saw,  but  another  phase 
of  affectation  in  Edna's  posed  features  and  down- 
cast eyes,  as  she  glided  around  in  evident  con- 
sciousness of  the  admiration  she  excited.  "With 
a  pang  of  disappointment,  Mark  shrank  away, 
fearing  to  be  noticed  by  Edna.  He  had  an  un- 
defined dread  of  being  noticed  by  her  there  and 
then,  and  very  soon  after,  had  bidden  adieu  to 
Mrs.  Yan  Spuytenduyvel,  and  left  the  house. 

What  bitter  emotions  filled  the  heart,  and  what 
cynical  thoughts  the  mind,  of  our  impetuous  hero 
that  night,  it  would  be  difficult  to  describe.  He 
imagined  he  had  discovered  the  cause  of  Edna's 
neglect  of  him.  She  was  utterly  changed.  Other 
thoughts  occupied  her  mind,  and  other  affections 
her  heart,  if  she  had  either,  which  he  was  begin- 
ning in  his  bitterness  to  doubt.  Should  he  make 
another  attempt  to  see  her  ?  No,  he  would  not. 
She  was  unworthy  of  further  attention.  He 


QTT.TYF/RST.MKV  MT  337 


should  return  to  his  duties  at  once,  and  start  for 
the  front  the  very  next  morning.  Such  was  his 
decision  before  he  fell  into  a  feverish,  disturbed 
slumber  towards  dawn.  But,  as  usual,  the  bright 
sunlight  of  morning  proved  a  sedative,  and  Mark 
became  disposed  to  be  lenient.  "  Perhaps," 
thought  he,  "  I  have  been  unjust  to  her.  She  has 
been  left  an  orphan  to  the  care  of  fashionable 
people.  Could  she  resist  —  could  any  young  girl 
resist  the  influences  of  the  artificial  existence  that 
such  people  lead  ?  Truth  is,  I  must  confess,  that 
I  don't  know  anything  about  fashion  or  fashion- 
able people  or  their  ways  and  manners.  I've  no 
doubt  that  Fm  all  wrong,  and  that  her  heart  is  all 
right  —  that  she  is  as  good  and  kind  aud  candid  as 
ever.  But  when  I  think  of  the  dear  little  artless 
darling  who  used  to  coast  down  the  Academy 
hill  at  Belton  with  me,  and  laugh  so  ripplingly 
when  she  fell  in  a  snow-bank,  and  that  Pompa- 
dour-looking belle  playing  her  eyes  at  the  host  of 
smirking  fools  around  her,  I  feel  as  if  I  could 
—  well,  well,  she's  a  warm-hearted  girl  for  all 
that,  and  has  always  been  my  friend,  and  I'm  a 

fool  "  (this  was  the  invariable  conclusion  arrived 
15 


338  MARK   GILDERSLEEVE. 

at  by  the  colonel  in  his  self-examinations).  "  At 
any  rate,"  he  continued, "  I  have  no  right  to  judge 
her  harshly.  I  shall  call  on  her,  and  her  welcome 
will  doubtless  efface  the  disagreeable  ijnpression 
I  have  received." 


MAEK  GILDEESLEEVE.  339 


XX. 

THE  morrow  found  the  colonel  calling  again 
on  Miss  Heath.  Before  doing  so  he  took  his 
friend  the  major's  advice,  and  visited  a  tonso- 
rial  artist  in  order  to  present  a  less  savage  and 
more  prepossessing  appearance.  This  time  he 
found  the  young  lady  at  home.  As  he  awaited 
the  return  of  the  domestic  who  took  his  card  and 
was  about  to  nsher  him  in,  the  suspense,  the 
mingled  joy  and  apprehension  of  meeting,  was 
almost  unbearable.  He  was  shown  into  sumptu- 
ous parlors,  so  filled  with  paintings  and  statues 
that  they  looked  like  exhibition  rooms,  where  he 
found  Edna  in  company  with  some  friends.  In 
a  perfectly  self-possessed  way  she  came  forward 
to  receive  him,  and  she  did  it  so  coolly,  and  in- 
troduced him  with  such  an  air  of  indifference  to 
the  other  visitors  present,  that  poor  Mark's  heart 
was  chilled.  Her  appearance,  also,  surprised  and 
displeased  him.  She  looked,  with  her  fair  hair 
twisted  into  Medussean  wildness  and  decorated 


340  ItfATCTC    GILDEBSLEEVE. 


•with  broad  gold  band  and  dangling  sequins; 
with  her  delicate  ears  weighted  by  Byzantine  pen- 
dants, and  throat  circled  by  a  snake-like  coil  of 
dead  gold,  —  like  an  Assyrian  princess,  beautifully 
barbaric.  But  her  jaded  eyes,  and  pale  cheeks 
bereft  of  bloom,  told  of  late  hours  and  departing 
freshness. 

Miss  Mumbie  was  there,  and  attired  much  in 
the  same  way.  There  were  also  two  gentlemen 
present. 

"I  believe  you  are  already  acquainted  with 
Captain  Gildersleeve,  Ada,"  said  Edna  to  Miss 
Mumbie,  who  bowed  rather  distantly  in  reply. 
"  Mr.  Jobson  —  Captain  Gildersleeve,"  she  contin- 
ued, introducing  Mark  to  one  -of  the  gentlemen. 

"  Captain  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Jobson  ;  "  why,  Miss 
Heath,  this  is  Colonel  Gildersleeve.  Didn't  I 
meet  him  last  November  when  I  went  down  to 
the  front  to  see  my  brother  ?  Colonel,  of  course, 
delighted  to  meet  you.  Don't  you  recollect 
Captain  Jobson's  brother,  and  the  row  with  your 
orderly  about  the  shaving  brush  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  beg  pardon,"  said  Edna,  coloring  slightly. 
"  I've  been  away  so  long  that  I  really  forgot  Mr. 
Gildersleeve's  present  rank." 


MASK  GILDEBSLEEVE.  341 

"  Forgot ! "  returned  Jobson,  who  was  a  dashing 
stockbroker,  and  had  all  the  brusquerie  of  his  class ; 
"  why,  I  thought  everybody  knew  how  the  colonel 
got  his  'promotion.  "Why,  Miss  Heath,  he's  one 
of  the  best  known  and  most  serviceable  officers  in 
the  army.  I  heard  the  commander-in-chief  him- 
self speak  in  the  highest  and  most  complimentary 
terms  of  him ;  said  he,  *  That  lame  devil  of  a  cav- 
alry colonel  on  H 's  staff  is  worth  all — ' " 

"  My  dear  sir,"  interrupted  Mark,  blushing, 
and  anxious  to  turn  the  conversation,  though  with 
a  secret  throb  of  pleased  vanity  in  his  inmost 
heart,  "  I  remember  you  now  very  well.  You 
came  up  to  City  Point  the  day  after  our  skirmish 
with  Hoke's  brigade,  when  poor  Archer  was  shot 
and  your  brother  wounded." 

"  To  be  sure  I  did,"  said  Jobson  ;  "  and  some  of 
you  fellows  at  headquarters — I  don't  say  it  was 
you — gave  me  some  of  the  vilest  whiskey,  that 
nearly  cut  me  in  two.  Why,  Miss  Heath — " 

But  Miss  Heath  was  at  that  moment  engaged 
with  the  other  gentleman,  to  whom  Mark  had  not 
been  presented.  This  gentleman,  evidently  a 
foreigner,  was  seated  between  the  two  young 
ladies,  whom  he  was  entertaining  with  some  ap- 


342  MAKE   GILDERSLEEVE. 

parently  amusing  conversation  in  a  subdued 
voice.  Edna,  who  was  reclining  regally  in  an 
arm-chair,  turned  her  head  languidly  to  listen 
when  appealed  to  by  Jobson. 

"  Excuse  me  ;  I  believe  I  omitted  to  introduce 
you,  colonel,  to  Count  Borgia — Colonel  Gilder- 
sleeve;"  and  the  two  men  bowed  stiffly.  She 
then  condescendingly  addressed  a  few  words  to 

O    v 

Mark :  "  Have  you  been  to  Belton  lately  ?  Dull, 
stupid  place,  isn't  it  ?  So  little  society,  and  what 
there  is  is  so  very  inferior.  Have  you  heard  about 
those  ridiculous  people,  those  nouveaux  riches, 
with  that  horrid  name,  who  have  built  near  Mr. 
Mumble's  ?  Isn't  it  shameful  that  such  persons 
are  permitted  to  intrude  among  respectable  peo- 
ple ?  And  they  do  say  Mr.  Abbott  visits  them, 
and  is  quite  attentive  to  one  of  the  young  ladies. 
Did  you  ever  hear  the  like  ?  Dear  me,  I  don't 
see  how  any  one  can  live  there  now.  I  do  so 
pity  Constance  Hull.  Poor  thing,  she  makes 
sucli  a  martyr  of  herself,  staying  there  all  alone 
with  the  Judge,  and  he  is  getting  so  old,  and 
peevish,  and  cross.  Her  brother  very  seldom 
goes  to  Belton,  I  believe,  but  Constance  will  stay 
in  the  poky  old  place." 


HAJEK  GILDER8LEEVE.  343 

"  Perhaps  she  is  one  of  those  persons  unfortu- 
nate enough  to  have  attachments,  and  who  cling 
to  old  associations,"  said  Mark,  sarcastically. 

Edna  seemingly  did  not  heed  the  thrust,  but 
replied  carelessly : 

"  I  don't  know  really,  but  it  must  be  very  stu- 
pid for  her." 

She  spoke  with  an  affected  drawl,  and  drooped 
her  hands  from  her  wrists  as  a  standing  dog 
does  its  paws.  Then  turning  to  the  Count, 
she  inquired  whether  he  had  been  to  a  cer- 
tain reception  that  afternoon,  and  who  were 
there. 

Mark  directed  his  attention  to  this  foreigner, 
whom  he  already  instinctively  disliked.  He  was 
a  handsome  Italian  of  thirty-five  or  so,  with  white 
teeth  gleaming  between  pulpy  red  lips  partly 
hidden  by  a  jet  mustache  with  waxed  points.  He 
appeared  well-bred,  spoke  English  fluently  and 
with  very  little  foreign  accent,  but  minced  his 
words  as  he  displayed  his  teeth,  and  smiled  so  in- 
sinuatingly, that  Mark's  disfavor  was  intensified 
at  the  sight. 

The  young  ladies  and  the  Count  began  discuss- 
ing the  important  subject  of  a  "  German  "  they 


344  MATtlf  GILDEBSLEK V E. 

had  attended  the  previons  evening,  subsequently 
to  the  party  at  the  Yan  Spuytenduyvels. 

"  Pm  sure,  Miss  Mumble,  I  am  right,"  insisted 
the  Count.  "  It  is  exactly  as  I  have  said.  I  did 
not  dance  the  bouquet  figure  with  Miss  Heath ; 
I  recollect,  with  very  great  distinctness,  indeed, 
jjjiat  I  was  leading  with  the  young  widow  lady, 
Mrs.  Lovett,  who  has  such  very  charming  eyes, 
and  Miss  Heath  was  with —  " 

"  To  be  sure,  Ada,  don't  you  recollect  I  was 
dancing  with  that  odious  little  Herbert  Hopper  ? " 
said  Edna.  "  Whenever  I  go  to  the  Pinkertons, 
I'm  sure  to  meet  him  invariably,  and  he  never 
leaves  me,  so  that  I  have  to  endure  the  pleasure 
of  his  company  the  whole  of  the  evening." 

"  I  wish  I  were  in  the  place  of  that  odious 
little  Hopper,"  remarked  Jobson,  gallantly. 

"  There  are  others  no  better,"  said  Edna ;  "  as 
for  Herbert  Hopper,  I  must  say  that  he  is  a  per- 
fect little  pest,  and  1  do  wish  he  wouldn't  annoy 
me." 

"  Say  the  word,  Miss  Heath,"  said  Jobson, 
"  and  I'll  slay  him." 

"  O  Miss,"  deprecated  the  Count,  with  a  win- 
ning air,  "  do  not — do  not,  I  pray  you,  be  so  se- 


GILDEESLEEVE.  345 

vere  with  the  fire  of  your  indignation  on  the  poor 
boy.  It  is  not  his  fault.  You  do  not  know  what 
he  has  to  contend  with.  How  can  he  help  it  ? 
When  we  see  a  parterre  of  beautiful  flowers,  do  we 
not  all  stop  and  linger  around  the  most  beautiful 
and  loveliest  of  them  ? "  and  he  added  some 
words  in  French  that  caused  Edna  to  smile  with 
evident  pleasure,  and  pout  her  lips  coquet- 
tishly. 

Mark's  feelings  underwent  a  complete  re- 
vulsion. His  bitter  disappointment  had  given 
place  to  anger  incited  by  jealousy  and  the  cav- 
alier treatment  he  had  received.  Now  disen- 
chantment succeeded,  and  left  him  very  sad. 
Was  it  for  this  he  had  striven  \  Where  were  all 
those  fond  illusions  and  longings,  those  bright 
visions  of  future -happiness  ?  Gone  in  one  brief 
interview  with  the  enchantress  that  had  con- 
jured them.  Was  this  vain,  artificial  flirt — this 
heartless  girl  who  treated  him  with  disdain  and 
indifference,  the  sweet  idol  he  had  worshipped 
so  fervently  from  boyhood  ?  He  could  stay  no 
longer  in  her  presence,  and  with  a  haughty  bow 
to  the  company  rose  to  leave.  Edna  bent  her 

head  with  a  dismissive  nod,  and  continued  her 
15* 


346  MARK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 

frivolous  conversation  with  the  Count.  Jobson 
sprang  up  also  to  leave.  "  Which  way,  Colonel  ? 
Stopping  at  the  Albemarle,  ain't  you?  Down 
the  avenue,  I  suppose  ?  I'll  go  with  you.  Stop 
a  minute  till  I  look  at  my  watch.  By  Jove! 
later  than  I  thought.  Ladies,  much  as  I  regret 
it,  I  must  tear  myself  away.  Don't  grieve,  and 
I'll  promise  to  return  again  and  heal  your  lacer- 
ated hearts.  'Too  late  I  stayed,  forgive  the 
crime,  Unheeded  flew  the  hours,  How  softly  falls 
the  foot  of  time,  That  only  treads  on  flowers ! ' 
With  which  elegant  extract  this  Child  of  Afflic- 
tion begs  to  subscribe  himself  on  the  tablets  of 
your  hearts,  ladies,  as  your  most  obedient  and 
obliged  good  servant.  Ajew — ajew !  Parting  is 
such  sweet  sorrow  that  I  shall  say — ajew,  till  it 
be  morrow.  Ha,  ha,  ha  !  " 

The  jocose  Jobson  then  bowed  himself  out, 
chaffed  the  servant  in  the  hall  who  assisted  him 
on  with  his  overcoat,  lit  a  segar,  offered  one  to 
the  impatient  colonel  (who  was  figuratively  shak- 
ing the  dust  from  his  shoes  on  the  stoop),  and 
then  hooking  his  arm  in  that  of  the  disgusted 
warrior,  walked  along  with  him,  chatting  with  a 
familiar  confidence  that  rather  surprised  his 


MARK  GUDEESLEEVE.  347 

companion.  Mark  examined  this  new-found 
friend  with  some  curiosity.  Jobson  was  a  tall, 
spare  man,  with  a  good-natured  sharp  face,  keen 
eyes,  a  predatory  nose,  and  wispy  whiskers.  Be- 
neath his  drab  surtout  he  wore  a  brown  velvet 
coat  and  waistcoat,  and  his  slender  legs  were  en- 
cased in  cords.  A  coral  splinter-bar  pin  orna- 
mented his  blue  bird's-eye  scarf,  and  his  watch- 
chain  was  composed  of  miniature  snaffle-bits  end- 
ing in  a  horse-shoe  locket.  Altogether  he  looked 
the  amateur  turfman  to  perfection. 

"  Deuced  fine  girl,  Miss  Heath,  ain't  she  ? " 
he  began ;  "  Got  the  stamps,  too — richest  heiress 
in  the  market.  Old  man  took  his  death  through 
immoderate  use  of  cold  water — fell  in  the  drink 
over  in  Jersey,  where  he  owned  a  whole  town ; 
and  to  think  now  that  this  sallow-faced  bandit 
seems  to  have  the  inside  track.  It's  a  burning 
shame,  I  say,  that  such  a  smoky-head  lazzaroni 
should  be  tolerated,  when  good-looking  chaps 
like  you  and  I,  colonel,  are  around  and  unpro- 
vided for,  ain't  it  ?  " 

The  stockbroker's  flippant  way  of  treating  a 
subject  so  near  to  the  colonel's  heart  grated 
harshly  on  his  feelings,  but  curiosity  overcame 


3AS  JOARK   G1LDEKSLEEVE. 

his  repugnance,  and  he  inquired,  "  Who  is  this 
Italian — this  Count  ?  " 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  I  know  about  him  in  a  few 
words,"  continued  Jobson.  "  Throw  away  that 
segar  first,  and  take  a  fresh  one — they're  Partagas. 
You  see  I'm  a  broker — by  the  bye,  here's  my 
card,  and  happy  to  see  you  down  town  at  my 
office  any  time  you're  that  way,  or  at  the  club 
in  the  evening,  whichever  is  most  convenient. 
Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I'm  a  broker,  and  last 
year  after  I  closed  out  the  Rock  Island  pool,  out 
of  which  I  cleared  two  hundred  and  forty-five 
thousand  dollars,  in  less  than  ninety  days,  I  went 
to  Europe  and  fell  in  with  the  Mumbies.  Pin  a 
second  cousin  of  old  man  Muuibie,  you  must 
know,  although  he  never  discovered  it  until  I 
was  worth  half  a  million.  Anyway  Bob  Mum- 
bie  and  I  went  about  together  some,  and  had  a 
good  time.  Miss  Heath,  who,  I  suppose  you 
know,  is  a  ward  of  Mumbie's,  was  with  the 
family,  and  this  feller,  this  Italian,  was  their 
courier.  After  a  while  It  came  out  that  he  was  a 
count,  and  then  they  all  kow-towed  to  him  as  if 
he  were  the  Grand  Mogul.  When  they  got  to 
Italy  he  showed  them  his  ancestral  halls,  and  all 


MAKE   GILDEBSLEEVE.  349 

* 

that  sort  o'  tiling,  and  sold  Murnbie  pictures  and 
marbles  enough  at  five  prices  to  stock  a  museum, 
BO  that  the  commissions  and  profits  he  made  011 
them  enabled  him  to  set  up  for  a  gentleman,  and 
give  up  the  courier  business.  But  he  still  froze 
to  the  Mumbies,  and  accompanied  them  over  here. 
First  he  made  love  to  Ada,  but  when  he  found 
out  that  Miss  Heath  was  an  heiress,  and  ever  so 
much  richer,  he  dropped  Ada  and  turned  his  bat- 
teries on  the  other.  Bob  Mumbie  was  also  sweet 
on  Miss  Heath,  but  when  the  Count  appeared, 
poor  Bob's  pipe  was  out  at  once.  Mrs.  Mumbie 
is  as  much  magnetized  as  any  of  them.  She" 
thinks  a  wonderful  sight  of  high  birth,  blood, 
families,  and  all  that  sort  o'  thing,  and  wants  to 
secure  the  Count  for  Ada,  though  I  don't  think 
there's  much  show  for  her  now.  So  you  see  the 
feller's  in  clover  and,  begad,  I  think  he  can  take  his 
pick  of  the  girls  any  day  he  wants  to.  Can't  im- 
agine what  possesses  our  girls  to  take  up  with 
foreign  beggars,  with  handles  to  their  names,  when 
there's  lots  of  their  good-looking  sensible  coun- 
trymen to  be  had,  with  the  rocks  to  back  'em." 
Here  Jobson  threw  back  the  lappels  of  his  coat 
and  displayed  his  chest.  -"  So  it  goes,"  he  con- 


350  MASK  GILDEESLEEVE. 

«4 

tinued  with  a  sigh.  "  Some  time  ago  French 
marquises  and  barons  were  all  the  rage,  and  now 
they're  running  on  Italian  counts  and  princes. 
That  Count  Borgia  hasn't  got  a  red  cent.  He's 
passing  chips  half  the  time  'round  to  Morrissey's. 
Hang  me,  if  I  don't  think  he's  a  capper,  and 
that's  the  way  he  manages  to  live." 

Jobson  evidently  spoke  from  warmth  of  f eeling, 
and  the  gist  of  his  sentiments  found  an  emphatic 
indorsement  in  Mark's  breast,  who,  however,  was 
not  disposed  to  exchange  views  on  the  topic, 
and  remained  silent.  By  this  time  they  had 
reached  the  Union  Club. 

"  Come  in  and  dine  with  me  ? "  said  Jobson. 

The  colonel  excused  himself. 

"  Well,  say  to-morrow.  I'll  call  for  you  in  my 
dog-cart,  and  we'll  take  a  spin  down  the  Lane  be- 
fore dinner.  What  do  you  say  ? " 

The  colonel  thanked  Jobson  for  his  invitation, 
but  said  he  should  leave  for  the  front  that  even- 
ing. 

"Sorry,  colonel,  if  you  must  go.  Good-by. 
Take  care  of  yourself." 

Mark  promised  to  do  so,  and  returned  to  his 
hotel. 


GILDEBSLEEVE.  351 


"  Henceforth  let  every  incident  of  my  past  life, 
every  thought  and  remembrance  connected  with 
her,  be  dismissed  from  my  mind.  Let  it  be  as 
blank.  I  blot  out  every  memory  of  Edna  Heath 
from  this  moment.  No  such  being  exists  for  me." 
Such  were  the  colonel's  resolves,  as  he  prepared 
himself  to  leave.  "  I  can  very  well  understand 
how  men  become  Trappists.  It  would  take  but 
little  to  induce  me  to  join  the  order,  provided 
they  permitted  smoking.  How  vain,  hollow,  and 
illusory  are  all  our  hopes  and  plans!  Yanity  of 
vanities,"  etc.,  etc.,  and  he  continued  in  the  usual 
strain  of  jilted  lovers,  indulging  in  gloomy  rhap- 
sodies as  he  packed  his  portmanteau. 

An  hour  later  he  was  on  his  way  to  City  Point. 
Contemporaneously,  the  object  of  his  animadver- 
sions was  in  her  room  preparing  for  the  evening's 
campaign.  The  hair-dresser  had  just  left,  and 
she  remained  leaning  pensively  on  her  toilet- 
table.  Evidently  she  was  dissatisfied  with  some- 
thing, probably  with  herself.  On  reviewing  the 
events  of  the  day,  and  her  conduct  and  attitude 
towards  Mark,  a  vexing  doubt  would  obtrude  that 
she  had  perhaps  treated  him  rather  shabbily,  at 
least  ungenerously,  if  not  unworthily.  "After 


352  MARK   GI1DEESLEEVE. 

all,"  she  reflected,  "  it  is  his  fault.    He  has  no 
one  to  blame  but  himself.     Why  did  he  not  an- 
swer my  letters  2  why  this  unaccountable  silence 
on  his  part  2     Perhaps  he  might  have  explained 
it,  but  then,  why  is  he  so  intensely  haughty,  and 
why  does  he  attempt  to  overawe  me  2     Am  I  a 
child  to  be  chidden  and  rendered  submissive  by 
imposing  airs  2     Still  he  seemed  so  joyful  when 
he  entered  the  room — his  eyes  fairly  sparkled. 
But  what  could  I  do  2     I  couldn't  fly  in  his  arms 
or  appear  demonstrative  in  the  presence  of  the 
Count  and  the  others.     Still,  I  might  have  shown 
some  cordiality.     I  don't  see  what  possessed  me. 
I  did  feel    like   greeting  him,    but    something 
checked  me.     O  dear !  I  am  so  weak  and  foolish, 
I  presume  nothing  will  do  now  but  I  must  write 
a  note  apologizing  like  a  little  goose,  and  telling 
him  how  very  sorry  I  am,  and  promising  never 
to  do  so  again.    No!    I  won't  do  that,  but  I'll 
smooth  it  over  with  a  few  non-committal  senten- 
ces, and  he  will  be  just  as  well  pleased.75.    Sitting 
down  to  her  writing-desk,  she  began  penning  a 
formal  missive,  containing  a  half  dozen  white 
fibs,  which,  before  it  was  completed,  she  impa- 
tiently tore  into  bits,  and  began   another  which 


p 

MARK  GILDERSLEEVE.  353 

met  a  similar  fate,  until  at  length  her  feelings 
found  relief  and  satisfactory  expression  in  the 
following : 

DEAR  MARK  : 

Do  not  leave  in  anger  with  me. 

EDNA. 

These  few  words  were  immediately  despatched 
to  the  colonel,  who,  Edna  had  overheard  Jobson 
say,  was  stopping  at  the  "  Albermarle,"  and  strict 
injunctions  given  the  messenger  to  ascertain  pos- 
itively if  this  were  so. 

The  clerk  in  attendance  at  the  hotel,  unaware 
that  Mark  had  departed  a  short  time  before,  re- 
plied, when  questioned  as  to  whether  the  colonel 
were  staying  there,  in  the  affirmative;  and  tak- 
ing Edna's  note,  flung  it  carelessly  in  an  appro- 
priate pigeon-hole.  It  lay  there  a  day ;  and 
the  next  tenant  of  the  room  occupied  by  Mark 
received  it,  opened  it  without  looking  at  the  ad- 
dress, and  discovering  his  mistake  and  the  appar- 
ent unimportance  of  the  epistle,  unconcernedly 
threw  it  into  the  fire. 

Accidents  seemingly  trivial  shape  our  des- 
tinies ;  and  this  one  separated  two  young  hearts 


354  MATtTT  GILDEESLEEVE. 


forever,  and  caused  a  material  divergence  in  their 
future  lives. 

Edna,  after  sending  the  note,  remained  at  home 
that  evening.  She  had  engaged  to  go  to  the 
opera;  but  plead  indisposition,  and  grievously 
disappointed  an  admirer.  She  waited  in  expecta- 
tion of  a  swift  acknowledgment  of  her  petition. 
The  mask  had  fallen.  If  Mark  could  have  seen 
her  now,  all  his  bitterness  would  have  vanished. 
Old  thoughts  and  recollections  had  resumed  their 
sway,  and  her  countenance  beamed  with  the 
latent  tenderness  of  a  frank,  generous  nature. 
It  was  not  the  tristful  expression  of  a  love-lorn 
maiden,  for  her  girlish  passion  for  Mark  was  in- 
deed gone  ;  but  there  remained  a  sincere  affection 
for  her  old  friend  and  playmate.  He  came  not, 
neither  made  he  any  sign;  and  Edna  retired 
to  her  room  that  night  disappointed,  and  perhaps 
a  little  nettle'd.  This  feeling  very  soon  passed 
over;  it  lasted  a  day  or  so,  and  then  with  an 
appeased  conscience,  and  serene  conviction  that 
she  had  made  ample  amends  for  her  frigid  re- 
ception of  her  old  lover,  she  continued  to  mingle 
in  the  whirl  of  fashionable  diversions. 

Her  wealth  and  beauty  had  installed  her   at 


* 

MAKE   GHDER8LEEVE.  «  355 


once  as  the  reigning  belle  of  the  season.  Suitors 
she  had  without  number.  Noticeable  among 
them,  besides  the  Italian  count,  were:  the  still 
faithful  Spooner,  the  former  dog-fancier,  now  the 
Rev.  F.  Standish  Spooner,  in  charge  of  a  congre- 
gation at  Roxbury,  that  he  sadly  neglected  to 
wait  upon  Miss  Heath,  without,  however,  much 
hope  of  success,  as  his  ineligibility  as  a  partner 
in  the  dance  put  him  at  a  wof ul  disadvantage ; 
the  dashing  stockbroker,  Jobson,  whom  the  belle 
rather  disdained,  in  spite  of  his  horses  and  yacht, 
as  unrefined  and  inclined  to  low  tastes ;  Herbert 
Hopper,  a  little  fop,  with  immeasurably  more 
money  than  brains  ;  a  pretty  fellow,  though,  that 
scores  of  girls  would  gladly  have  taken  up  with ; 
and  last  though  not  least,  Percy  Brocatelle,  a  fa- 
mous leader  of  the  German.  Percy's  means  of 
livelihood  were  involved  in  mystery,  and  his  an- 
tecedents humble.  He  had  been  a  clerk  at  Stew- 
art's, where  his  gentlemanly  address  and  good 
looks  had  won  him  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances from  among  the  fashionable  patronesses  of 
that  establishment.  Under  the  auspices  of  the 
sagacious  Sexton  Brown,  he  had  forsaken  the 
glove-counter,  and  made  his  debut  as  a  society- 


356  •         MARK   GILDEKSLEEVE. 

man,  gradually  rising  to  eminence  in  that  ar- 
duous profession.  Envious  swells,  to  be  sure, 
maligned  him ;  sons  of  successful  pork-merchants 
and  stable-keepers  blackballed  him  and  refused 
him  admission  to  their  clubs ;  but  Brocatelle  rose 
triumphant  over  all  these  obstacles,,  and  was 
found  everywhere — that  was  anywhere — for  who 
could  so  deftly  tread  the  mazes  of  the  German  as 
he  ?  Whose  head  was  so  round,  or  hair  parted 
with  such  precision  as  his  ?  And  who  else  com- 
bined with  all  this,  clothes  so  faultless,  and  a 
mustache  so  imposing  ?  His  taste,  furthermore, 
in  ladies'  dress — in  their  laces,  gloves,  ribbons, 
and  coiffures,  was  unimpeachable  and  invaluable. 
These  qualities  were  not  to  be  gainsaid  ;  and  Ed- 
na, for  one,  declared  publicly,  that  she  preferred 
dancing  with  him  to  any  one  else,  and  dreaded 
his  criticism  on  her  attire  more  than  even  that  of 
the  great  Schmauder.  Yet  in  spite  of  all  these 
advantages,  Percy  could  make  no  headway 
against  the  Count — the  irresistible  Count,  sur- 
rounded with  all  the  fascinating  and  terrible 
glories  of  the  Borgia  family,  whose  star  was  in 
the  ascendant  until  a  prince — a  real  PKINCE, 
came  along.  For  it  happened  in  those  days  that 


MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE.  357 

the  son  of  a  reigning  monarch  was  making  a  tour 
of  the  States.  His  mother,  who  was,  naturally 
enough,  a  queen,  although  a  queen,  bore  as  irre- 
proachable a  character  as  any  matron  in  her  do- 
minions; and  as  such  praiseworthy  conduct  on 
the  part  of  a  sovereign  deserved  encouragement, 
several  estimable  old  citizens- of  the  great  me- 
tropolis deemed  it  their  duty  to  manifest  their 
approval  of  her  good  behavior,  by  giving  a  public 
ball  to  her  son,  out  of  respect  for  his  august 
mother.  This,  to  be  sure,  was  but  a  left-handed 
compliment  to  the  son,  and  when  a  committee  of 
the  reverend  seignors  waited  on  the  prince  to 
tender  the  proposed  honor,  he  did  not  evince  any 
lively  sense  of  anticipated  pleasure;  and  after 
the  deputation  had  bowed  themselves  off  (each 
one  under  the  delightful  delusion  that  he  would 
be  asked  in  return  to  drop  in  at  the  palace,  in  a 
friendly  way,  on  his  next  visit  to  Europe)  he 
turned  to  his  mentor  and  discontentedly  said, 
'Dammit,  Grey,  must  I  go  to  that  ball,  and  be 
bored  by  those  confounded  snobs  ? " 

"  No  help  for  it  that  I  can  see,"  replied  my 
lord. 

"  Well,  there  will  be  lots  of  pretty  girls  there, 


358  MARK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

I  dare  say.  These  Yankee  girls  are  doosid  pretty. 
If  they'd  only  give  me  a  chance  to  have  my  fling, 
and  not  insist  on  my  leading  out  a  lot  of  stupid 
old  dowagers,  I  wouldn't  mind  it  a  bit,"  remarked 
H.  E.  H. 

Now  princeling  was  to  a  certain  extent  justified 
in  his  comments,  for  while  the  mass  of  the  people 
had  an  honest  curiosity  to  see  a  prince,  and 
rushed  to  look  at  him  as  they  would  to  a  unicorn 
or  any  other  rare  sight,  there  was  a  select  circle 
who  worshipped  him  as  the  representative  of 
power  and  pageantry,  and  hoped  by  surrounding 
him  to  shine  resplendently  in  the  reflected  light 
of  royalty.  H.  R.  H.  was  not  an  astute  lad,  but 
he  was  probably  sharp  enough  to  perceive  that  all 
the  toadying  he  was  subjected  to  was  due  to  his 
rank  and  trappings  and  not  to  him  as  an  individ- 
ual. That  refined  snobbery  called  loyalty  has  its 
redeeming  side.  One  can  understand  the  devo- 
tion of  a  good  and  wise  royalist  to  an  imbecile  or 
wretched  monarch,  because  the  sentiment  may  be 
disinterested,  and  would  still  exist  were  the  mon- 
arch an  exiled  mendicant,  but  the  courtiership  of 
republicans  is  purely  selfish  and  debasing.  Most 
of  us,_like  Thackeray,  would  jump  out  of  our 


MAEK   GLLDEESLEEVE.  359 

skins  for  joy  at  walking  arm-in-arm  between  two 
dukes,  but  it  is  painful  to  reflect  that  we  should 
hardly  toss  a  shilling  to  either  of  them  the  next 
day  if  stripped  of  their  titles  and  reduced  to  beg- 
gary. So  Mr.  Mumbie,  who  was  abject  in  the 
presence  of  the  prince,  and  ready  to  prostrate  his 
poor  old  brown  wig  in  the  dust  before  his  royal 
highness  would,  in  all  likelihood,  have  but  grudg 
ingly  lent  him  a  dollar  had  he  come  in  the  guise 
of  an  impecunious  plebeian.  But  H.  R.  H. 
was  a  good-natured  boy  and  had  a  part  to  per- 
form. So  he  duly  attended  the  ball,  was  very 
complaisant,  honored  several  ladies,  old  enough 
to  be  his  grandmammas,  jvith  his  august  hand  in 
the  dance,  and  was  then  allowed  to  run  at  large 
among  the  younger  beauties  present.  Miss 
Ileath  was  among  those  who  enjoyed  the  inestim- 
able privilege  of  being  selected  as  his  partner. 
Moreover,  he  graciously  flirted  with  her  in  the  in- 
tervals of  a  galop.  He  told  her  that  she  was  a 
"stunning  girl."  His  Royal  Highness  had  ac- 
tually said  that!  Edna  thrilled  with  pleasure. 
True  he  had  paid  the  same  compliment  to  the 
oysters  of  the  country  and  its  cocktails — true  he 
was  plain  and  an  awkward  dancer,  but  then  he 


360  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

was  a  prince — a  prince  of  the  blood-royal,  what- 
ever that  might  be,  and  she,  Edna  Heath,  in  his 
princely  estimation,  was  a  stunning  girl !  Was 
there  anything  left  to  live  for  ?  Her  happiness 
was  complete,  but  alas  and  alack  !  the  prince,  as 
princes  often  do,  fluttered  away  like  a  fickle  but- 
terfly, and  she  was  left  forlorn  to  mourn  his  dis- 
appearance. 

Then  by  degrees  the  Count — the  wily,  per- 
sistent Count — temporarily  eclipsed,  arose  again 
and  reappeared  in  the  zenith  of  her  favor.  At 
times,  when  she  had  leisure  to  think  amid  the 
excitement  of  her  existence,  she  gave  a  passing 
thought  to  Mark,  but  she  felt  absolved  from  any 
duty  towards  him.  She  had  done  all  that  could 
be  "required  of  her,  and  had  gone  farther  to  retain 
his  regard  than  she  would  to  any  other  person 
than  so  old  a  friend.  It  is  true  she  had  had  a 
girlish  fancy  for  him,  but  it  was  at  a  time  when 
she  was  barely  more  than  a  child  and  inexperi- 
enced. He  could  not  possibly  presume  upon  that 
now,  especially  after  the  long  period  in  which  he 
had  neglected  her,  and  when  her  letters  had  re- 
mained uncared  for.  Consequently  she  felt  en- 
tirely justified  in  dismissing  him  thenceforth  from 


GILDERSLEEVE.  361 


her  mind.  It  is  not  so  certain  but  that  the 
Count  might  have  shared  the  same  fate,  had  it 
not  been  for  an  occurrence  that  turned  the  scales 
in  his  favor. 

Mrs.  Mumbie,  in  her  anxiety  to  secure  the  no- 
bleman for  a  son-in-law,  had  watched  with  much 
dissatisfaction  his  marked  preference  for  Edna. 
This,  and  the  heiress'  continued  indifference  to 
her  son  Bob's  attentions,  were  more  than  her  kind, 
motherly  soul  could  bear.  After  a  long  delay  and 
patient  waiting,  one  day  Bob  ventured  to  propose. 
Edna  listened  with  an  air  of  mingled  surprise 
and  merriment  that  rather  disconcerted  him,  and 
declined  the  proffered  honor.  The  rejected  post- 
ulant, chopfallen  and  sullen,  repaired  to  his 
mother  and  related  his  unsuccess.  Mrs.  Mumbie 
could  contain  herself  no  longer.  The  blood  of 
the  Skinners  was  aroused,  and  her  wrath  knew  no 
bounds.  Rushing  in  unceremoniously  upon  the 
heiress,  she  overwhelmed  her  with  vehement  re- 
proaches. Edna  was  at  first  bewildered,  and  re- 
coiled from  the  storm  of  anger  so  unaccountably 
directed  at  her  by  the  usually  amiable  matron,  who 
raged  away  incoherently,  until  at  length  unburth- 

ening  herself,  the  animus  of  all  her  fury  was  very 
16 


362  MAKK   GILDEBSLEEVE. 

disagreeably  revealed.  "  So,  Miss,  you  have  seen 
fit  to  insult  us — to  insult  your  guardian — to  in- 
sult the  family  to  whom  you  owe  so  much,  by  re- 
fusing my  son,  who  was  good  enough  to  honor 
you  by  an  offer.  Tou  hussy!  how  dare  you 
slight  my  son — how  dare  you  treat  us  in  this  way  ? 
This  is  your  gratitude,  is  it  ?  After  all  the  kind- 
ness we  have  shown  you — after  all  our  attention 
and  devotion  to  you.  You  precious,  artful  piece  ! 
to  think  of  your  eating  day  after  day  at  our  table, 
sitting  at  our  board  with  us,  looking  as  if  butter 
wouldn't  melt  in  your  mouth,  and  all  the  while 
plotting  against  the  happiness  of  our  children.  I 
don't  see  how  you  dare  look  at  me !  And  the 
Count — this  foreign  adventurer  whom  Ada  de- 
spises and  whom  you  have  encouraged  with  your 
advances — this  Count  has  turned  your  silly  head, 
and  I'll  no  longer  permit  you  to  stay  in  this  house- 
hold." 

,Edna  could  listen  no  longer.  With  cheeks  hot 
with  indignation,  and  hands  to  her  ears,  she  re- 
treated into  an  adjoining  room.  Mrs.  Mumble, 
left  alone,  took  to  screaming,  and  throwing  herself 
on  the  floor,  drummed  away  with  her  heels  in  im- 
potent ire.  Edna  meanwhile  put  on  her  hat  and 


MARK  GILDEKSLEEVE.  363 

shawl,  and  swiftly  leaving  the  house  stood  in  the 
street.  She  drew  her  veil  to  hide  her  agitated 
countenance,  and  debated  whither  she  should  go. 
Within  a  few  squares  dwelt  an  intimate  friend,  a 
young  lady,  to  whom  she  repaired  and  confided 
her  trouble.  This  done,  her  pent-up  grief  could 
no  longer  be  contained,  and  she  gave  way  to  a 
long  cry.  She  was  very  sorrowful.  The  Mum- 
bies  had  always  been  kind  to  her,  and  their  home 
was  the  only  one  she  had  known  since  her  father's 
death.  This  sudden  severance,  and  Mrs.  Mumbie's 
cruel  attack,  made  her  feel  very  lonely  and  mis- 
erable. 

It  was  not  until  the  morrow  that  the  Mumbie's 
discovered  where  their  ward  had  taken  refuge. 
By  that  time  Mrs.  Mumbie  had  recovered  her 
presence  of  mind,  and  felt  that  she  had  sadly 
marred  her  plans  by  her  hasty  and  intemperate 
conduct.  So  Mr.  Mumbie  was  immediately  de- 
spatched with  a  verbal  apology,  and  instructions 
to  smooth  matters  and  induce  the  heiress  to  return. 
Mr.  Mumbie  felt  himself  rather  an  incompetent 
ambassador  for  such  a  mission,  still  he  undertook 
it  with  zeal  having  a  genuine  affection  for  the 
daughter  of  his  old  friend,  and  sincerely  and 


364:  MAKE   GILDEESLEEVE. 

deeply  regretting  his  wife's  behavior  towards  her. 
With  what  seemed  to  him  subtle  policy,  he  put 
on  sundry  tokens  Edna  had  given  him,  such  as  a 
seal  ring,  a  scarf-pin,  and  a  watch-chain  which 
could  not  fail  to  open  a  spring  of  fond  associa- 
tions that  would  greatly  facilitate  his  task.  He 
augured  well  from  his  reception,  for  Edna  ap- 
peared much  pleased  to  see  liina,  and  held  up  her 
face  to  be  kissed.  But  when,  after  a  short  dis- 
quisition on  the  weather,  and  some  hemming  and 
hawing,  he  ventured  to  announce  the  object  of 
his  mission,  and,  in  alluding  to  Mrs.  Mumbie's 
"  peculiar  temper,"  said  she  "  mustn't  mind  it " — 
that  nobody  minded  her  "  peculiar  temper " 
(which  was  rather  a  stretch  of  veracity),  as  "  she 
didn't  mean  anything  by  it,"  and  that  the  best 
thing  Edna  could  do  was  to  put  on  her  "  things  " 
and  go  right  back  with  him — the  young  lady 
shook  her  head  in  a  way  that  caused  Mr.  Mum- 
bie  to  lose  faith  in  his  powers  of  persuasion.  He 
tried  to  appeal  to  her  feelings.  "  Why,  Edna,  you 
can't  imagine  how  we  miss  you.  You  know  we 
are  a  family  of  strong  local  attachments.  I  my- 
self have  carried  this  knife — this  " — 

He-felt  in  his  pockets,  rummaged  them,  searched 


MARK   GILDERSLEEVE.  305 

them  over — the  knife  was  gone !  Consternation 
was  imminent — when  he  suddenly  recollected 
that  he  had,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  left  this 
cherished  companion  at  home.  This  shock,  how- 
ever, disturbed  his  ratiocination,  and  he  floun- 
dered on  rather  feebly  in  his  plea. 

"  As  I  was  saying,  Edna,  we  miss  you  awfully. 
If  you  had  only  seen  us  at  breakfast  this  morning, 
you  couldn't  stay  away  a  minute.  We  couldn't 
any  of  us  eat  hardly  anything.  All  I  took  was  a 
cup  of  tea  and  a  roll.  As  for  Bob,  and  you  know 
what  a  hearty  feeder  he  is,  poor  Bob  couldn't  go 
more  than  a  couple  of  buckwheat  cakes  and  a 
chop,  and  Ada,  she  just  about  touched  an  egg, 
and  kept  pointing  with  her  fork  at  your  vacant 
chair,  and  saying  there's  where  she  used  to  sit. 
Last  night  Will  Hull  called,  and  says  he,  *  Where's 
Edna  ? '  and  Ada  didn't  know  what  to  say.  Now 
this  sort  of  thing  won't  do.  You  must  forget 
and  forgive." 

"My  dear  guardian,"  replied  Edna,  firmly; 
"  while  I  shall  always  retain  the  utmost  respect 
and  gratitude  for  the  kindness  you  have  invari- 
ably shown  me,  and  shall  always  be  very  much 
pleased  to  see  you,  I  never  wish  to  see  Mrs. 


366  MARK   GILDEESLEEVE. 

Mumbie  again.  I  could  not  endure  to  be  re- 
minded of  the  cruel  attack  I  was  subjected  to 
from  her." 

"  Come — come,  Edna,  you  must  not  talk  in 
that  strain.  She  didn't  mean  anything  by  it. 
I've  been  through  it  myself.  It's  only  her  pecu- 
liar way,  you  know." 

Edna  pressed  her  lips  tightly  together,  and 
shook  her  head,  in  a  manner  that  signified  a  fixed 
resolution,  and  disheartened  her  guardian. 

"  Why,  Edna,  even  Blanche  has  noticed  that 
you  have  left  the  house,  and  goes  whining  about, 
and  as  for  the  canaries  they  are  dumb  and  dull 
as  owls,"  added  Mr.  Mumbie,  at  a  loss  for  argu- 
ments. But  even  this  touching  allusion  to  the 
sorrows  of  the  pet  Italian  grayhound  and  the  sing- 
ing-birds failed  to  soften  the  obdurate  ward,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  retire  baffled. 

Then  Ada  Mumbie  came  and  tried  her  powers, 
but  with  no  better  success,  and  Edna's  determi- 
nation remained  unshaken. 

She  stayed  at  her  friend's  house,  pending  the 
arrival  of  Mrs.  Applegate,  who  was  spending  the 
winter  in  a  distant  western  city,  and  with  whom 
she  intended  to  reside  in  the  future. 


TVfARK   GILDBESLEEVB.  367 

The  moment  was  a  propitious  one  for  the 
Count.  He  was  aware  that  some  disagreement 
had  arisen  between  the  Mumbies  and  Miss  Heath, 
but  of  the  nature  of  it  he  was  in  total  ignorance. 
His  curiosity  was  excited.  He  could  learn  noth- 
ing' from  the  young  lady.  She  of  course  was 
silent  on  the  subject,  and  he  had  too  much  tact  to 
appear  inquisitive,  but  Bob — the  guileless  Bob,  in 
a  gush  of  confidence,  inspired  by  a  bottle  of  Bur- 
gundy at  the  club,  imparted  the  story  of  his 
unrequited  love,  his  declaration,  and  its  sequel, 
to  the  feeling  bosom  of  a  friend,  who  in  turn 
confided  the  tale  to  a  dozen  other  confidential 
friends.  In  this  way  it  reached  the  ears  of  the 
Count,  who  was  not  slow  to  perceive  the  great 
advantage  Miss  Heath's  present  position  gave 
him  in  prosecuting  his  suit.  Here  was  a  young, 
inexperienced  person,  severed  from  life-long 
friends,  and  left  ajmost  alone  in  the  world. 
Naturally  she  was  ready  to  attach  herself  to  the 
first  sympathetic  heart  that  presented  itself  in  a 
suitable  and  engaging  way.  Craftily  the  Count 
played  his  cards.  When  Edna  went  to  Philadel- 
phia to  reside  with  her  aunt,  he  followed  her 
there,  and  had  the  field  to  himself.  He  began  by 


368  MARK   GIIDEBSLEEVE. 

captivating  Mrs.  Applegate.  She  bore  a  strik- 
ing resemblance  to  his  cousin  the  Principessa 
Baldonachi,  he  said,  and  had  the  port  and  mieu 
of  those  noble  Venetian  daines,  that  Titian  loved 
to  paint.  lie  brought  her  flowers  and  escorted 
her  to  church.  The  good  lady  was  flattered  be- 
yond measure  at  these  unwonted  attentions,  and 
pronounced  him  the  most  polite  gentleman  she 
had  ever  known.  At  a  favorable  moment  he 
took  occasion  to  confide  to  her,  his  adoration  of 
her  niece — that  truly  noble  young  person — for, 
while  he  confessed,  with  a  certain  reluctance, 
that  he  belonged  to  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
houses  of  Europe,  yet  he  deemed  the  only  true 
nobility  to  be  the  nobility  of  the  soul,  such  as 
Miss  Heath  possessed  ;  and  then,  with  a  sigh,  he 
regretted  that  the  young  lady  was  wealthy.  lie 
deeply  deplored  that.  "  If  she  were  only  a  poor 
girl — if  she  were  entirely  destitute — how  happy 
I  should  be.  With  what  eager  joy  would  I 
hasten  to  lay  my  heart,  my  title,  my  patrimony, 
everything  at  her  feet,  and  beg  of  her  to  accept 
them.  But  now,  alas!  I  cannot.  No— no — it 
cannot  be — it  must  not  be.  The  world — the  cen- 
sorious world,  would  call  me  mercenary.  No — 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  309 

•8. 

I  must  suffer  in  silence.     Be  still,  my  poor  heart ! 
But  you  shall  be  my  friend,  will  you  not  ?  " 

His  visible  agitation  and  moistening  eyes 
touched  Mrs.  Applegate,  who  ventured  a  little 
consolatory  advice.  The  Count's  sentiments  and 
conduct  in  this  manner  did  him  great  honor,  she 
said,  but  she  did  not  think  he  was  called  upon  to 
push  his  disinterestedness  to  such  extremes.  For 
her  part,  she  had  always  been  of  the  opinion  that 
no  considerations  of  money  should  be  allowed  to 
interfere,  where  true  affection  existed,  and  the 
happiness  of  the  parties  was  at  stake.  The 
worthy  dame  already  saw  herself  sweeping  down 
the  grand  staircase  of  the  Palazzo  Baldouachi, 
on  the  arm  of  her  noble  nephew-in-law. 

The  Count  thanked  her  a  thousand  times,  for 
her  kind  words.  She  had  lifted  a  load  from  his 
heart,  he  said,  and  raising  her  hand  respectfully 
to  his  lips,  the  gallant  Italian  closed  the  inter- 
view. 

Having  secured  the  aunt  as  an  ally,  the  Count 
redoubled  his  efforts  to  please  the  niece.  He  sur- 
rounded her  with  delicate  attentions.  He  was 
pliant,  polite,  deferential,  and  at  length  Edna 

yielded.    What  else  could  she  do  ?    How  could 
16* 


370  MAKE   GILDEKBLEEVE. 

X 

slie,  an  inexperienced  girl,  who  had  never  felt, 
until  now,  the  need  of  a  protector,  resist  the  per- 
sistent courtship  of    a  man,  handsome,   subtle, 
versed  in  the  vulnerable  points  of  feminine  nature, 
who  plied  her  with  ardent  protestations  of  love 
and  constancy.    Her  aunt  approved  of  it,  too,  and 
not  long  after  the  announcement  was  made  pub- 
lic, that  a  marriage  had   taken   place   between 
Count    Borgia    and  Miss  Edna  Heath,   which, 
naturally  enough,  created   no  little   excitement 
among  the  numerous  friends  and  admirers  of  the 
bride  in  the  neighboring  city  of  New  York.     The 
match  was  very  frankly  discussed  at  the  clubs, 
rather  unfavorably  than  otherwise,  and  Jobson 
freely  offered  the  odds  of  two  to  one,  in  sums  to 
suit,  that  the    Count  would    either    poison   or 
strangle  his  wife  within  a  year ;  and  odds  of  ten 
to  one  that  the  extinguishment  would  take  place 
in  less  than  six  months,  provided  the  husband 
could  get  a  will  in  his  favor  by  that  time — found 
no  takers. 

Colonel  Mark  Gildersleeve  read  of  the  mar- 
riage in  a  newspaper,  just  before  the  final  ad- 
vance of  our  army  on  Richmond.  Perhaps  his 
rash  bravery  on  that  occasion,  when  he  rallied  a 


MAEK   GILDERSLEEVE.  371 

broken  column  against  a  battery  as  gallantly  as 
Caulincourt  at  Borodino,  may  have  been  stimu- 
lated by  the  conduct  of  one  who  had  robbed  ex- 
istence of  its  charms,  and  rendered  all  renown 
barren. 


372  MAiyg   QILDEESLEEVE. 


XXL 

SOON  after  their  marriage,  the  Count  and 
Countess  Borgia  sailed  for  Europe.  The  latter, 
before  leaving,  found  use  for  some  of  her  wealth 
in  liquidating  her  husband's  debts.  Not  a  few 
of  them  were  incurred  at  the  gaming-table.  The 
Count  was  in  favor  of  repudiating  these,  but  as 
the  holders  of  his  obligations  made  application 
to  his  wife,  she  insisted  upon  paying  them. 
The  fact  that  he  proposed  to  cheat  his  gambling 
associates  shocked  her  far  more  than  the  knowl- 
edge that  he  had  indulged  so  deeply  in  the  vice. 
But  she  was  destined  to  a  series  of  shocks.  Hav- 
ing secured  the  coveted  prize,  the  Count  had  no 
longer  any  object  in  playing  the  hypocrite.  His 
true  character  revealed  itself.  He  was  faith- 
less and  tyrannous.  He  attempted  no  violence 
towards  her,  as  Jobson  had  predicted,  but  his  ac- 
rimonious temper  and  bursts  of  vicious  anger,  al- 
ternating with  fits  of  feigned  tenderness,  of  spu- 
rious fawning  affection,  and  his  utter  dishonesty 


MAKK  GILDEESLEEVE.  373 

soon  dissipated  the  little  love  she  had  for  him ; 
avei-sion  succeeded,  and  ere  the  first  year  of  their 
union  had  closed,  separation  took  place. 

She  lives  now  in  Paris,  consoling  herself  in 
the  care  of  an  infant  son  for  the  lingering  bitter- 
ness resulting  from  disillusion,  and  the  convic- 
tion that  she  was  the  dupe  of  a  designing  knave ; 
while  he  spends  his  time  between  Ilombourg, 
Monaco,  and  other  gambling  resorts,  squander- 
ing the  handsome  allowance  he  receives  from  his 
wife  on  condition  of  never  appearing  within 
fifty  miles  of  where  she  is  residing. 

Mark  Gildersleeve,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  ap- 
plied for  and  received  a  commission  as  captain 
in  the  regular  service.  The  Government,  when 
granting  it,  were  pleased  to  convey  their  appreci- 
ation of  the  efficient  and  invaluable  services  he 
had  rendered. 

While  in  Washington,  shortly  after  the  receipt 
of  his  commission,  he. met  at  Willard's,  Miss  Hull, 
who  had  accompanied  her  grandfather,  the  Judge, 
to  the  capital.  Mark  had  never  been  intimate 
with  her,  but  ventured  nevertheless  to  accost  her 
and  renew  the  acquaintance.  She  received  him 


374  MAEK   GELDERSLEEVE. 

pleasantly,  and  he  spent  several  very  agreeable 
evenings  in  her  society.  She  was  not  a  comely 
young  woman,  rather  plain,  in  fact — small,  pale, 
and  wearing  shell-glasses,  but  she  possessed  a  fund 
of  good  sense  and  a  cultivated  mind  that  were 
very  engaging.  Mark  discovered  that,  and  found 
that  his  wounded  heart  was  now  healing,  so  fast, 
indeed,  that  it  rather  amazed  him.  "Strange," 
thought  he,  "  I  never  noticed  how  much  there  was 
in  Miss  Hull.  I  always  had  an  idea  that  she  was 
a  commonplace,  in  fact,  rather  insignificant  girl. 
How  blind  boys  are !  Upon  the  whole,  I  think 
she's  the  cleverest  and  most  charming  young  lady 
I  ever  saw ;  after  all,  how  much  more  potent  are 
the  fascinations  of  the  mind — the  graces  of  intel- 
lect, than  those  of  mere  physical  beauty." 

The  sequel  can  be  foreseen.  Mark's  bankrupt 
heart  was  now  solvent.  He  fell  in  love  with  Con- 
stance Hull,  and  proposed  to  her.  She  did  not 
reject  him  absolutely,  but  made  her  acceptance 
conditional  on  not  being  required  to  leave  her 
grandfather.  Here  was  a  quandary.  Mark  was 
contented  with  his  profession.  He  could  not  bear 
the  thought  of  resuming  his  old  calling,  which  he 
would  have  to  do,  in  case  he  returned  to  live  in 


MAKE   GILDEBSLEEVE.  375 

Belton.  One  thing  was  clear :  he  should  have  to 
throw  up  his  commission  and  leave  the  army. 
The  alternative  was  a  hard  one.  Resign  his 
claim  to  Miss  Hull,  he  could  and  would  not.  In 
this  dilemma,  and  while  seeking  some  way  out  of 
it,  an  event  occurred  which  settled  the  matter  in 
an  unexpected  way.  Death,  the  great  intermed- 
dler,  stepped  in  and  removed  the  old  Judge,  and 
after  a  proper  period  had  elapsed,  Constance  Hull 
consigned  her  fortunes  to  the  care  of  Mark  Gil- 
dersleeve.  The  latter  is  now  stationed  at  one  of 
the  frontier  forts,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  as 
happy  as  mutual  affection  and  esteem  can  make 
them. 

Our  ecclesiastical  friend,  the  Reverend  Spencer 
Abbott,  has  also  taken  unto  himself  a  wife,  and  is 
married  to  Miss  Angela  Gogglemush,  second 
daughter  of  the  distinguished  inventor  of  the 
Terpsichorean  Ointment.  The  wedding  was  the 
most  brilliant  affair  of  the  kind  that  ever  took 
place  in  Belton,  to  quote  the  language  of  the 
"  Sentinel,"  and  was  "  got  up  in  a  style  of  Ori- 
ental magnificence — the  bishop  officiated — six 
bridesmaids — ushers — two  thousand  invitations — 
presents  innumerable — sixty-two  silver  tea  sets — 


376  MAttK  GILDEBSLEEVE. 


ten  gross  butter-knives  —  one  hundred  and  forty- 
three  salt-cellars  —  sixty-two  bronze  card-receivers 
—  diamonds,  rubies,  pearls,  beryls,"  etc.,  etc. 

Angela  is  an  excellent  spouse,  and  her  husband 
is  still  in  charge  of  St.  Jude's.  Not  long  since, 
learning  that  Dr.  Wattletop  was  seriously  ill,  he 
went  to  see  him.  He  found  the  old  physician 
on  his  death-bed,  and  remained  with  him  until 
the  last  moment.  The  rector  hinted  at  repent- 
ance and  "making  his  peace  with  God,"  but 
the  moribund  was  apparently  as  firm  in  his 
stoical  opinions  as  ever.  To  the  rector's  kind 
entreaties  he  shook  his  head,  and  replied  feebly, 
"  Useless  *  .  useless  .....  Nothing  I  say 
now  can  cancel  one  wrong  I  have  committed  or 
any  evil  done  .....  The  future  cannot  be 
at  the  mercy  of  chance  or  opportunity  ..... 
Justice,  impartial  and  inexorable,  of  the  Creator. 
How  weary  .  .  weary  .  .  weary  .  .  Death 
comes  so  slowly  "... 

And  the  old  philosopher  felt  his  own  pulse  as 
the  current  of  life  was  ebbing  fast,  until  like  one 
going  to  sleep  he  passed  away. 

The  Mumbies  still  reside  in  New  York.     Ada 


MASK  GILDERSLEEVE.  377 

is  not  married  yet,  and  Mrs.  Mumbie  says  she 
rejoices  at  it  when  she  considers  the  dangers  to 
which  eligible  girls  are  exposed  by  designing 
fortune-hunters,  and,  as  a  case  in  point,  never 
fails  to  cite  that  of  Edna  Heath,  that  "  poor  un- 
fortunate person,"  as  Mrs.  Mumbie  calls  her, 
when  she  expatiates  to  a  friend  on  the  fate  of  her 
husband's  ward,  and  relates  how  her  motherly 
affection  was  repaid  by  base  ingratitude.  "  We 
did  all  we  could,"  she  never  omits  to  add,  "  to 
warn  her  against  the  intrigues  of  that  foreigner. 
We  expostulated  with  her,  we  besought  and  im- 
plored her,  but  all  in  vain,  and  now  see  the  re- 
sult. I  am  told,  (lowering  her  voice  to  a  whis- 
per, and  with  a  slight  shiver  of  horror  as  she  bends 
to  the  ear  of  the  confidant) — I  am  told  that  from 
the  very  day  they  were  married  he  beat  her,  and 
on  one  occasion  tried  to  poison  her ;  she  recov- 
ered from  the  effects  of  it,  but  her  system  is  a 
wreck — a  complete  wreck,  -and  she  now  drags  out 
a  miserable  existence,  and  Mr.  Mumbie  has  actu- 
ally to  pay  her  husband  money  to  keep  him  away 
from  her." 

The  master  of  the  Archimedes  Works  is  now 


378  MAEK   GILDEESLEEVB. 

mayor  of  Beltou.  The  town  having  attained  the 
dignity  of  incorporation  some  two  years  since, 
George  was  chosen  its  chief  magistrate  by  his 
grateful  and  admiring  fellow-citizens.  He  is  in 
no  way  spoiled  by  the  honor  thrust  upon  him,  but, 
if  possible,  is  more  independent  than  ever ;  in 
fact,  it  would  probably,  to  put  it  mildly,  now  re- 
quire the  combined  efforts  of  a  drove  of  hogs  on 
the  Mer  de  Glace  to  exemplify  his  extreme  inde- 
pendence. He  and  his  wife  still  occupy  the  small 
house  on  Mill  Street ;  and  the  latter's  chief  delight 
is  in  the  periodical  visits  she  receives  from  her 
brother-in-law  and  adopted  son,  Captain  Mark, 
and  his  wife,  as  he  never  fails  to  spend  the  fur- 
loughs accorded  him  in  his  old  home  and  with  his 
adopted  mother. 


Our  little  story  is  ended.  What  will  probably 
strike  the  reader  as  the  most  improbable  incident 
in  it,  will  be  very  likely  the  one  where  truth  has 
been  the  most  faithfully  followed.  We  allude  to 
the  cause  of  Mr.  Heath's  death.  The  traveller 
who  speeds  over  one  of  the  railways  radiating  from 
the  city-of  New  York,  may  be  attracted,  when  a 


MAKK   GILDEBSLEEVE.  379 

short  distance  out  from  the  suburbs,  by  a  fine 
stone  villa  surrounded  by  beautiful  grounds  and 
conservatories.  It  was  evidently  designed  and 
built  by  some  one  of  taste  and  wealth.  Some 
years  ago,  to  the  astonishment  of  all,  the  owner 
perished  by  the  act  of  his  own  hand.  What  led 
him  to  it  was  unknown,  except  to  a  few.  It  was 
remorse  created  by  the  discovery  that  an  appar- 
ently trivial  act  of  dishonesty  on  his  part,  long 
years  gone,  had  caused  the  ruin  of  an  innocent 
boy  suspected  of  the  offence.  Moral  law  vindi- 
cated itself  and  became  its  own  executioner. 

Before  parting  with  the  reader,  it  is  meet  that 
we  should  apologize  for  having  in  one  instance 
decked  our  hero  in  borrowed  plumage.  That  is, 
in  attributing  to  him  the  feat  of  unspiking  the 
siege-gun.  The  honor  of  that  exploit  belonged 
to  John  Stray,  a  private  in  the  First  Regiment 
N.  Y.  V.  E.,  and  occurred  before  Fort  Wagner. 
It  was  done  precisely  as  narrated,  and,  as  an  act 
of  nerve  and  cool  courage  under  circumstances 
of  extreme  peril,  has  but  few  parallels  in  our  late 
civil  war. 

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